2025 MAINE FARM & SEA TO INSTITUTION SUMMIT

From Inspiration to Action: Seeding Solutions for a Sustainable Food System

When: October 14, 2025

Where: Colby College, Waterville, ME 04901

ABOUT

Join us for a day of connection, celebration, action, and learning!

The Maine Farm & Sea to Institution (MEFTI) Summit is a gathering of farmers and food producers, food service operators, advocates, institutional buyers, educators, administrators, and others dedicated to cultivating the power of institutions to generate meaningful change in the Maine food system. The Maine Farm to Institution Summit is designed to inspire and energize the network through sharing best practices and innovative strategies; enhancing network capacity through skill building; and strengthening our collective impact by engaging stakeholders in shared problem solving.

The 2025 summit will take place on October 14, 2025 at Colby College in Waterville, ME. It is a daylong event, and will include presentations, hands-on workshops, networking opportunities, a local food show, and more!   

GOALS

  • Showcase innovations, proven practices, and success stories that advance Farm to School efforts and institutional procurement of locally and regionally produced food.

  • Build stronger working relationships among farmers, fishers, food producers, institutions, and advocates to support long-term coordination across the state and region.

  • Create a space for participants to share knowledge, access practical tools and resources, and build partnerships that advance sustainable Farm & Sea to Institution efforts.

  • Strengthen community leadership, elevate underrepresented voices, and foster shared learning and dialogue to build a food system that works for everyone.

HISTORY

For years, the Maine Farm to School Network (MFSN) hosted the annual Maine Farm to School Conference, celebrating and strengthening farm-to-school efforts across the state.

As the movement grew, so did the vision. The Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Network, building on MFSN's foundation, broadened its reach to connect local producers with institutions across Maine's food system, including healthcare, higher education, and correctional facilities. The inaugural Maine Farm to Institution Summit was held at UMaine's Hutchinson Center in 2018.

Now serving as the umbrella network for MFSN, the Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Network is bringing back this transformative gathering after a multi-year hiatus.

The 2025 Farm & Sea to Institution Summit will build on decades of farm to school and farm to institution work in Maine, celebrate past successes, and strengthen the movement for the future.

Request for Proposals (RFP) Now open

Visit the RFP page to learn more and submit a proposal!

Interested in becoming a Sponsor for the 2025 MEFTI Summit?

We couldn’t do this without you! Your sponsorship will help make this event possible while also amplifying your organization's impact and brand presence among institutional food buyers, school nutrition professionals, farmers, fishers, policymakers, and food system advocates.

Email Sarah Sims at s.sims@hccame.org to learn how you can support this event.