Sen. Hickman’s bipartisan bill to support Maine farmers through state institutions’ food buying contracts receives unanimous support in committee
AUGUSTA — On Tuesday, April 22, the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry voted unanimously to advance LD 1141, “An Act to Increase the Procurement of Maine Foods by All State Institutions.” This bipartisan bill from Senator Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop, would promote the purchase of food from Maine producers by state institutions, supporting Maine farmers and businesses.
“On Tuesday, the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee voted in favor of food produced by Maine people for Maine people,” said Sen. Hickman. “They voted to reduce our reliance on foods imported from who knows where, to grow a more robust food economy from York to Fort Kent, and to create desperately needed jobs right here in Maine. These are bipartisan priorities that I believe my colleagues in the Legislature will also support. It’s time that our state institutions, when they purchase food, invest more of Maine taxpayers’ money in Maine farmers and food businesses, and less in out-of-state Big Food distributors like Sysco.”
LD 1141, as amended by Sen. Hickman’s sponsor amendment that was accepted by the committee, would update Maine food policy to require state institutions to procure 30% of their food products from Maine producers, in alignment with the 2030 goals of the Maine Won’t Wait plan.
LD 1141 would:
- Expand the role of the Institutional Food Procurement Coordinator to coordinate with appropriate state agencies and quasi-governmental entities, Maine food producers and food service professionals
- Call for an annual meeting of stakeholders to explore opportunities for cooperation to increase the purchase of Maine foods and food products by state institutions
- Establish an advisory committee to support and advance strategies for increasing purchases of Maine foods and food products by state institutions
- Require a biennial report on the progress toward statutory procurement goals.
This bill received support at its public hearing from multiple Maine agricultural organizations, including the Maine Farm Bureau, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and Maine Farmland Trust. It also had the support of various state institutions and agencies responsible for feeding Maine people.
“Maine is almost entirely reliant on food from away — currently importing an estimated 96% of its food supply — [even] though we have the natural resources … and knowledge to be self-sufficient and enjoy a healthy, diverse, balanced and delicious diet,” said Heather Spalding, Deputy Director of MOFGA, in her testimony in support of the bill at its public hearing on April 1. “LD 1141 will help move the needle toward self-reliance in our food and agriculture system by requiring, rather than simply encouraging, the procurement of Maine foods and food products by state institutions. … We appreciate Senator Hickman’s leadership with this bill and also are happy to see the bi-partisan support for prioritizing state institutional buying of foods produced here in Maine.”
LD 1141 now faces votes in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Sen. Hickman is an organic farmer from Winthrop who co-chairs the Maine Agriculture, Food System and Forest Products Infrastructure Investment Advisory Board. He represents Maine Senate District 14, which includes Chelsea, Farmingdale, Gardiner, Hallowell, Manchester, Monmouth, Pittston, Randolph, Readfield, Wayne, West Gardiner and Winthrop.
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