Northeast Farm to Institution Summit Convenes Food System Leaders in Maine

“The root of all inequality is the process of othering – and its solution is the practice of belonging.”

— Belonging Without Othering, by john a. powell & Stephen Menendian

Portland, ME - Earlier this month, the Northeast Farm to Institution Summit brought together food system leaders from across the Northeast, and beyond, for a powerful three-day gathering in Portland, Maine. Hosted by Farm to Institution New England (FINE), the Summit is a biannual event that celebrates the role of institutions as anchors in the regional food economy. By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, the gathering sparks relationships, ideas, and strategies to support viable local farm and food businesses, and build healthy, just communities across New England.

This year’s Summit was held for the first time in Maine, at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland. Over 420 attendees gathered to learn, collaborate, and build momentum for the future of food systems work in our region.

We are proud that Maine Farm to Institution's own Alida Peterson served on the Summit steering committee, helping shape the program and bring local voices to the forefront. And Maine certainly showed up! With over 90 conference attendees from Maine, we had one of the strongest delegations from the state ever—farmers, school nutrition professionals, community organizers, and advocates from across the food chain.

The theme of this year’s gathering was "Belonging"—an invitation to center relationship-building as a core pillar of food system transformation. 

Keynote Highlights

Day 1 – Leadership in Supporting Culturally Relevant School Meals

The opening plenary showcased Maine’s leadership in reshaping school food. Through the collaborative efforts of Portland and Westbrook School Districts, the Halal School Meals Network, and other local leaders, Maine is leading the way in supporting local farmers, increasing access to culturally relevant meals for a diverse student body, and showing how school food can build connection and belonging in the cafeteria.

Panelists included:

A Few Takeaways:

  • As of April 1, Portland Public Schools are serving halal-certified meals in all 14 mainland schools

  • The Halal School Meals Network launched the nation’s first 3rd-party certified Halal school meals program

  • A critical challenge remains: Maine currently has no halal-certified slaughterhouse, posing a significant barrier to local sourcing.

  • Portland Public Schools officially launched a district wide Wabanaki Studies curriculum — the first of its kind in the state more than 20 years after Maine law first required schools to teach Wabanaki history and culture.

  • While the federal Local Food for Schools (LFSCC) program has been cut, Maine’s state Local Food Fund (LFF) is critical for continued local food procurement

  • Together, these leaders painted a powerful picture of what’s possible when school food connects to student identity, local agriculture, and community values.

Day 2 – Senator Craig Hickman: Food is Life

The second day’s keynote featured Maine Senator Craig Hickman—a poet, organic farmer, small business owner, chef, author, and Harvard graduate. Senator Hickman co-authored Maine’s Food Sovereignty Act, and helped lead the charge to pass the constitutional amendment enshrining the Right to Food, the first of its kind in the nation. His stirring speech was a masterclass in storytelling, tracing the personal, political, and cultural significance of food.
Watch the keynote recording:

Policy, Funding, and the Road Ahead

With shifting priorities in the federal administration, many across the Farm-to-Institution world are feeling the effects—most notably in changes and cuts to funding programs like Local Food for Schools (LFSCC). We were grateful to hear from the National Farm to School Network, who shared key federal policy updates and offered tangible ways to stay engaged and get involved. Their leadership continues to be essential. Thank you, National Farm to School Network. Learn more about these federal changes on the MEFTI blog.

Forward, Together

MEFTI left the FINE Summit feeling energized, connected, and proud to represent Maine’s leadership in the regional food system movement. This gathering affirmed the power of relationship building, shared learning, and a sense of belonging, not just as values, but as strategies for real change.

Thank you FINE, the steering committee, and all the attendees and speakers who traveled to the great state of Maine. We look forward to carrying this momentum forward, together!

Renee Page