Seeking Info on Maine's Food Security Goals

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Del Ketcham on July 26, 2008 at 6:59pm

Lisa,

Great questions. I too am interested in these goals. In view of the recent dissolvement of "Partners for Ending Hunger" here in Maine the whole notion of where food security is heading in this State is leading me to looking at possible solutions and to be helpful in that effort..

Peace,

Del Ketcham

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Theresa Bonsey on September 8, 2008 at 6:24pm

I went to a Quaker Fall Gathering last weekend and Anne D ("Andy") Burt is involved with Food and Faith--"Be a Good Apple! Local Foods Covenant Project" and may still be affiliated with Maine Council of Churches. In this workshop she facilitated, I believe she told us the current level of nutritional needs met by Maine food producers for typical Mainers is 18 or 20% and the goal (don't recall the year) is 80% to be met by Maine food producers. I believe she won't mind if I provide her email address...it's on the handouts she provides... adburt@gwi.net
Theresa Bonsey

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by KA Bartlett on November 14, 2009 at 4:43pm

Here is a link to the Maine Food Policy Council at the Dept of Ag.

http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/mpd/information/foodpolicy.html

I went to one of their meetings and it was really interesting.

My question, though. is whether there has been any thought of forming a Public Food Policy Council, one not tied to the state? The State council is great, but they have all the restrictions of a gov't body (I think it took them a year or so to get all of the members approved before they could even start anything and now there is talk that the Dept. of Ag may not be interested in adopting anything new right now anyway....speculation that was mentioned at the meeting I attended in October).

It seems like there is a lot of interest in this subject and alot of groups that touch on it, but no unified effort to unite members of the public and diverse groups that have an interest. Other states and provinces have done it. Does anyone know of a movement here?

Kristen

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Del Ketcham on November 15, 2009 at 7:28am

We have the makings of that through this web site and the Eat Local Foods Coalition(ELFC) However we need to put together a groups that is dedicated to that and includes people from farm to fork. Farmers food distributors, hospitals, educational institutions, business people, restaurants, churches, govt officials etc, etc,. See list of partners that Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee put together several years ago and is still active today.

It seems to me that an organization similar to the could operate somewhat in tandum with the Maine Policy Council but be independent. The problem is putting it together and coordinating it but is seems to me with todays technology that it could be done. There also needs to be a core group(5 or so) that are single minded about it. Any single minded folk out there?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jeremy Keith Hammond on February 22, 2010 at 10:34am

Apologies, I'm new to this forum so I'm starting from a somewhat less informed position. By "food security" what do we mean here in this forum? Do you mean "food security" as a whole for the state, ensuring the sustainability of food production/procurement as well as cost and availability for consumers? Or do you mean "food security" for those specifically unable to acquire appropriate calories and nutrients, such as those who access the hundreds of food pantries I work with across the state? I assumed the former until you mentioned the dissolution of "Partners in Ending Hunger" Maybe you mean both.

I ask because I work specifically on hunger ending issues through my work at Good Shepherd Food-Bank and I'd be more than interested in state-wide, inter-sectoral partnering that aligns with our mission.

My email address is: j h a m m o n d /at/ gsfb.org [no spaces]

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Del Ketcham on February 22, 2010 at 11:01am

Hi Jeremy,

Cannot answer for others but my idea of food security and efforts thereof are currently being accomplished by the MANNA- Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee www.foodsecuritypartners.org

Much of the work we did in Middle Tennessee and one of our major partners was the Second Harvest Food Bank in Nashville. You might like to research what they are doing now and how food security is defined by them. I am currently and it is taking a mighty long time the history of the formation of the Partners in Nashville. Three Installments are on their website.

Any partnering in Maine would need to include you as well as partners from all segments of the food system. Farmers, Hospitals, schools, various non profits, ordinary citizens, churches, businesses, political leaders etc. etc.

Love to talk with you.


Peace, Del Ketcham

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jeremy Keith Hammond on February 23, 2010 at 11:09am

You are more than welcome to email me. My address is above.

Cheers!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Shannon Rooney on November 15, 2009 at 2:57pm

Hi Lisa,
I heard about the New England Governor's Conference, Inc. making an effort in this area, but I don't know how extensive it is. Here are some links:

http://www.negc.org/publications.html - see the NEGC Resolution on Land Conservation pdf

http://www.farmland.org/news/pressreleases/New-England-Farm-and-Foo...

Hope this helps!
Shannon

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by KA Bartlett on November 16, 2009 at 12:39pm

I'm definately "single-minded" on this issue --some might say obsessed, but in a good way I'm sure :) I would be very interested in helping to get something organized. Any one else?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by LisaF on December 15, 2009 at 11:41am

Count me in. Both a local approach such as the excellent:
http://issuu.com/conwaydesign/docs/foodsecurity

...and statewide approaches are necessary!

▶ Reply to This