MEFTI Impact Report highlights the programs, events, activities, and partners that shaped 2025

2024 | Healthy Communities of the Capital Area

This report assesses local, healthy food procurement strategies among institutions that serve the older adult population, such as congregate meal sites, meal service programs (e.g., Meals on Wheels), and long-term care and nursing facilities.

2025 | Maine Agricultural Trades Show

Maine Farm & Sea to Institution (MEFTI) in collaboration with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF), hosted a matchmaking event at the Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show. This gathering brought together institutional buyers and local producers to strengthen and build these supply chain relationships.

Panelists: Amber Lambke – Maine Grains, Colleen Hanlon Smith – Peak Season, Mike Flynn – RSU 12, Kieve Wavus Education, Blair Andrews – Bumbleroot Farm, Maeve McInnis – MaineCourse by Sodexo

July 2024

Building on the priorities of the Maine Food Convergence Project, Processing Work Group, MEFTI, and other networks, the Maine Marinara Collaborative (MMC) increases processor and farmer capacity, addresses the economic benefits of local food, and establishes a foundation for increased purchasing of local and equitable product by Maine institutions. 

A big thank you to everyone who joined us in this strategic planning journey to help shape the future of Maine Farm to Institution and Maine Farm & Sea to School, two vital food system networks in our state! From here, these networks will dive into a

June 2023

In 2022, Healthy Kids Healthy Future Maine led a CSA box pilot program that connected 10 ECE providers in Waldo County with local food products. The successful pilot experience showed opportunities for Maine.

In 2023, the pilot was expanded and adapted with grant funding from the Young Farmers Coalition’s Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network-Northeast (FRSAN-NE). This grant was awarded to the Maine Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Market Access and Inclusivity cohort hosted by MEFTI, which helped lead the second CSA box pilot program.

This database contains categorized farm to institution resources relevant to New England

2017 | Farm to Institution New England (FINE)

Maine's profile provides an overview of farm to institution statistics across three sectors:  K-12, health care, and colleges & universities. 

2017 | New England Food System Planners Partnership

The New England Food System Planners Partnership (NEFSPP) is a collaboration amongst seven state-level food system organizations and representatives from the six-state agricultural, economic and environmental departments in New England. New England Feeding New England (NEFNE) is the Partnership’s primary initiative and aims to have 30% of the food produced in New England consumed in the region by 2030. Together, we are mobilizing our networks to impact local and regional food supply chains and strengthen and grow the New England regional food system.

2024 | Maine Department of Environmental Protection

The 2024 Maine Food Loss and Waste Generation Study was a collaborative, statewide effort to assess food loss and waste by sector. Forty percent of the food we produce is never eaten which amounts to 360,000 tons of food loss.

Maine Farm to Institution worked with researcher/author Danielle Walczak in 2017 to publish this report entitled "Harvest of the Month Implementation in Maine".  The report includes a summary of key elements of existing Harvest of the Month programs in New England and considerations/recommendations for the implementation of a Harvest of the Month program in Maine.

2017 | Healthy Communities of the Capital Area

Maine Farm to Institution (MEFTI), under the fiscal sponsorship of Healthy Communities of the Capital Area (HCCA), was contracted by the Central Public Health District (CPHD) to carry out one of the District Public Health Improvement Plan (DPHIP) Obesity Prevention Objectives. The specific project entailed assessing current levels of fruit and vegetable offerings in CPHD food-serving institutions, identifying any barriers to increased consumption of those offerings and, based on findings, forming an implementation plan to address any barriers.  This report provides the summary of the findings of the project and recommendations.

2019 | Chesapeake Foodshed Network

2012 | University of Vermont

An illustrated video on the challenges of the dominant food system, and alternatives for creating healthy people and a healthy planet. Commissioned by the University of Vermont.