Whether you’re a farmer, producer, service provider, or just another person who eats local food, it’s been a rough couple of months.
Every week, we are learning about federal funding freezes or cancellations for local food projects and food security in Maine and across the country. We cannot reiterate how sad and devastating these losses are, especially for the lowest-resourced communities who are suffering the most from these cuts.
Our Situation
MFFM currently relies on 2 federal grants to support our work, including a grant called GusNIP, which funds about 50% of the Maine Harvest Bucks program. Our other grant has helped support our farmers’ market organizer training program that we have built out over the past 3 years. So far, both grants are still reimbursing MFFM for our costs. However, we share the anxiety with over one hundred thousand nonprofits and individual farmers across the country who feel very uncertain about existing federal grant commitments and future prospects for federal funds to support our critical work.
Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are on the table, and would leave 175,000 of the most vulnerable Mainers with less money to buy food. SNAP brings about $30 million into Maine’s economy each month, and our program Maine Harvest Bucks helps incentivize shoppers to spend it with local producers at farmers’ markets and farm stands. At Maine farmers’ markets, SNAP and Maine Harvest Bucks brought over $680,000 to local businesses in 2024. At some markets, SNAP & MHB comprise 10% to 30% of total sales. SNAP makes farmers’ markets grow and accommodate more businesses in rural communities across Maine.
What We’re Focusing On
MFFM doesn’t have a staff person focused on advocacy work. However, when opportunities arise, we engage.
Our sign-on letter to Maine’s D.C. delegation included 120+ farmers’ market businesses from all over the state. SNAP is not only critical to food insecurity, but helps stabilize our economy. We are letting everyone know how valuable SNAP is for all Mainers.
We’re monitoring and in contact with advocacy partners like Full Plates Full Potential and MOFGA to learn how else we can leverage MFFM’s network to speak up for federal programs that promote food security and local food.
In Augusta, we’re helping to organize and advocate for LD 468 and LD 210. Both bills would add more funds to the Fund To Address Food Insecurity and Provide Nutrition Incentives. LD 468 saw over 80 written testimony submissions and another 15+ oral testimonies. This state funding for Maine Harvest Bucks is critical to our program’s ongoing sustainability and growth. We’re grateful for our champions in the House and Senate, including Senator Henry Ingwersen and Representative Bill Pleucker, who have worked with MFFM and our partners to see secured state funding.
Moving Forward
We are closely monitoring the status of these bills and will be reaching out to all of you in our network when further calls to action are necessary. Email Jimmy at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.