Maine Senate gives initial approval to Sen. Ingwersen bill to increase accessibility to local produce

AUGUSTA – On April 9, 2025, the Maine Senate gave initial approval to a bill from Sen. Henry Ingwersen, D-Arundel. LD 468, “An Act to Address Food Insecurity by Helping Maine Residents Access Locally Produced Food,” would remove barriers to accessing to nutritious food, helping mitigate the impacts of food insecurity.

“This legislation is a win-win: it puts local food on the tables of Mainers who need it most and directly supports the hardworking farmers who grow it,” said Sen. Henry Ingwersen. “This legislation is an investment in community resilience and increasing positive health outcomes. Farms play an important role as local food access points for Mainer’s who lack access to quality nutritious foods.”

“LD 468 helps Maine households with low incomes stretch their limited grocery budgets and support Maine growers and producers,” said Anna Korsen, Program Director at Full Plates Full Potential in supporting testimony on LD 468. “Food insecurity is on the rise in Maine with rising costs of food and other basic costs of living, and households and local farms are struggling to make ends meet. Maine Harvest Bucks and Farm Fresh rewards have helped 25,000 Mainers who participate in SNAP buy more fruits and vegetables, with 30% of SNAP users including families with children. All Mainers deserve high quality nutritious food and programs that address food insecurity.”

LD 468 would give ongoing funding to nutrition incentive programs, such as Maine Harvest Bucks and Farm Fresh Rewards via the the Fund to Address Food Insecurity and Provide Nutrition Incentives.

LD 468 faces additional votes in the Senate and House.