As Goes Maine On Local Food Systems

Press Release, June 12, 2018, St. Paul, Minnesota and Knox, Maine—Today at their annual Congress the National Health Freedom Coalition awarded Heather Retberg and Betsy Garrold one of their annual Health Freedom Leadership Awards. In conferring this honor the Coalition stated “For Leadership in passing into law Maine LD 725, titled An Act to Recognize Local Control Regarding Food systems. With the passage of LD 725, which states that ‘a municipal government may regulate by ordinance local food systems, and the state shall recognize such ordinances,’ Maine became the second state in the nation to allow consumer to buy directly from farmers and food producers regardless of the state and federal licensing and inspections that would likely otherwise apply.”

Garrold in her remarks accepting the award said, “We need both policy changes and electoral politics to make sure we retain a voice in our own lives. Freedom to eat what we want. Food that is produced by local farmers with whom we have a relationship. Food produced in our communities so that our food dollars stay in our local economies. Good, wholesome food produced in ways that we can see, by people that we can trust.”

Retberg from her farm in Penobscot, Maine said “I’m surprised and honored by the National Health Freedom Coalition Award for our efforts in Maine. On June 16th, we celebrated the one year anniversary of the governor signing the Maine Food Sovereignty Act (MFSA) into law. It is a beautiful coincidence that we received this award so close to the celebration of that date. Last year, at that time, twenty towns had adopted ordinances to exert local control over their food exchanges. Just one year later, Maine has forty towns that have adopted local rules for local food! The passage of the MFSA has opened the doors for communities to enact self-determination over our livelihoods and our health by enacting local laws to determine how our food needs are met. I am most grateful to the National Health Freedom Coalition for their recognition of the work of so many people all across the state of Maine and thankful to them for shining their national light on our push toward greater food sovereignty—may it continue to spread!”

In the past two weeks six more towns have passed the Local Food and Community Self-Governance Ordinance (LFCSGO). These towns were: Northport, Orland, Buckfield, Lebanon, Georgetown, and Mount Vernon. This brings the total number of municipalities in the state to 39 with a version of the LFCSGO. The pace of towns passing the ordinance has picked up sharply since the passage of the law last year recognizing these ordinances in state statute.

Local Food RULES and Food for Maine’s Future will continue to assist any citizen who wishes to seek passage of the ordinance in their own towns. Contact them at www.localfoodrules.org or via Facebook at the Food for Maine’s Future page.

Contact: Betsy Garrold. 207-568-3302 or mainefood55@gmail.com