Maine Farm to Institution SummitABOUT
About the MEFTI Summit
The Maine Farm & Sea to Institution (MEFTI) Summit is a daylong event hosted by Healthy Communities of the Capital Area’s (HCCA) food system network: Maine Farm & Sea to Institution. The summit brings together producers, distributors, institutional buyers, food service professionals, educators, policymakers, and advocates from across Maine for shared learning, networking, and relationship building.
Designed to strengthen local and regional procurement, the MEFTI Summit offers opportunities to share best practices, explore successful models for institutional kitchens, cafeterias, and meal programs, and build meaningful connections across the food system. The event features a mix of presentations, hands-on workshops, networking opportunities, and a local food show highlighting Maine producers selling to Maine’s cafeterias.
Focused on advancing farm to school and institutional sourcing, the MEFTI Summit supports broader goals of public health, food security, agricultural resilience, and a more equitable local food economy.
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Maine Farm to Institution Summit 2025
From Inspiration to Action: Seeding Solutions for a Sustainable Food System
October 14, 2025
Colby College, Waterville, ME
2025 Summit GOALS
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Showcase innovations, proven practices, and success stories that advance Farm to School efforts and institutional procurement of locally and regionally produced food.
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Build stronger working relationships among farmers, fishers, food producers, institutions, and advocates to support long-term coordination across the state and region.
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Create a space for participants to share knowledge, access practical tools and resources, and build partnerships that advance sustainable Farm & Sea to Institution efforts.
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Strengthen community leadership, elevate underrepresented voices, and foster shared learning and dialogue to build a food system that works for everyone.
Over the Years
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The first Maine Farm to School Conference was held in 2015 by the the Maine Farm to School Network (MFSN), 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 with over 200 attendees.
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.