Saco River Lake Region Food Policy Council Meeting

Today more than 35.5 million Americans, including 12.6 million children, live in a condition described by the federal government as food insecurity. This means that these households either suffer from hunger or struggle at the brink of hunger. Like many other inequities, lack of food access in the United States has been growing as a result of increasing income inequality and racial discrimination . Many are unaware of the problem while many others suffer. Hunger, poor nutrition, diseases such as cancer and obesity, and environmental degradation stem from the present industrial model of food production and distribution subsidized by state and federal governments. In response, Food Policy Councils have been springing up all over the nation over the past decades to confront these issues and improve local food systems.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture ranks Maine as fifth in the nation for households experiencing “food insecurity,” the agency’s term for hunger. Maine is ranked second to last in the United States for “very low food security” : 5.9% of Maine households reported shifting meal habits or eating less than they normally would for financial reasons. Unfortunately, little comparable data exists at the local level. However, there are many economically disadvantaged students living in the MSAD 6 area. The middle school has 339 students (37%) who qualify for free or reduced-priced meals. The only Food Policy Council in Maine is the Saco River Lake Region Food Policy Council. Comprised of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds in the MSAD 6, 55, and 61 area, the SVLR FPC is currently focusing on three areas: educating the community about the pressing food security risks and possible solutions, collaborating with existing food pantries and other nonprofit organizations, and producing food locally and sustainably. The next Food Policy Council meeting is at the Alumni Lounge in the Alfond Center at St. Joseph’s College on Thursday, April 2 at 6:30 PM. Anyone living within these communities and interested in food security is encouraged to attend.