FMF DIRECTOR ELECTED TO NATIONAL FARM COMMITTEE

St.Peter Joins NFFC Executive Committee

Sedgwick – Bob St.Peter, co-founder and director of Food for Maine’s Future, was recently elected to the Executive Committee of the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC). The election took place at the NFFC’s winter meeting in Washington, DC at the end of January. The term is for one year.

“It’s an honor and privilege to work alongside these true heroes,” says St.Peter. “Working with the NFFC I am constantly reminded of how important and valuable the contributions of family farmers and fisherman are to rural communities.”

The National Family Farm Coalition is based in Washington DC and is comprised of 25 farm and fishing groups from 32 states, including Food for Maine’s Future. NFFC serves as a national link for grassroots organizations working on family farm issues, including credit, trade, and farm and food policy. Through the NFFC, these organizations collaborate regionally on nation-wide campaigns making the most of every group’s experience, resources, and impact. For more information visit www.nffc.net.

Farmer Suicides Increase in Poor Economy

“Farmers have twice the national suicide rate compared with non-farmers”

Food Safety News
Jan. 31, 2010

by Norah Burton

During the Reagan era family farms experienced a rapid demise with many farmers turning to suicide as a result of lost profits.  There may once again be a muted epidemic of suicide occurring with the downfall of the economy.

The recent suicide of a New York State dairy farmer has drawn attention to the potential recurrence of this issue.  The farmer, who raised 100 head of cattle, killed his 51 dairy cows he milked twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, before killing himself.

Though Dean Pierson reportedly had ‘personal issues’ in recent months, his suicide raises multiple questions, including whether the farmer felt an elevated pressure to produce.  In early 2009, a Maine farmer hanged himself in his barn.  More recently, two Maine farmers–one an organic dairy farmer–committed suicide; both shot and killed themselves.

read full article

from the “we’re all in this together” file…

Why Are Indian Farmers Committing Suicide and How Can We Stop This Tragedy?
by Vandana Shiva

Food for Maine’s Future challenges myth of GMO/organic coexistence!

Organic advocates skeptical of workshop

Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinal
January 13, 2010

AUGUSTA — Advocates for organic farming say a workshop at the state agricultural trades show today is a veiled campaign to make Maine farmers accept genetically engineered crops. The 12:45 p.m. workshop is billed as promoting co-existence of organic and genetically engineered crops. “It looks to me with this workshop that they’re really pushing for people to be OK with genetic engineering and accept GMOs (genetically modified crops),” said Bob St. Peter, executive director of Food for Maine’s Future.

“The Maine Department of Agriculture believes there could be co-existence between organic and GMO living side by side,” St. Peter said, “but it does create a risk. The demonstration of contamination already has taken place in Maine and that makes those of us who don’t want to eat or grow them very weary.”

Read full article here

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Save the Date – 5th Annual Local & Sustainable Food Conference

Announcing the…

5th Annual Local & Sustainable Food Conference:
Building Urban/Rural Alliances

and Mud Season Dinner

April 10th & 11th, St. Mary’s Nutrition Center, Lewiston, Maine

Presented by Food for Maine’s Future, Lots to Gardens, Healthy Oxford Hills, and WERU

5th Annual Local and Sustainable Foods Conference: Building Urban/Rural Alliances and Mud Season Dinner Saturday, April 10th at St. Mary’s Nutrition Center in Lewiston. This year’s conference will explore key issues facing Mainers working for positive change in local and regional foodsheds. Through workshops, discussions, and facilitated planning sessions conference participants will help create a set of Action Plans to guide our growing movement towards an equitable food system with justice and dignity for all.

Sunday, April 11th Food Policy Mini-Conference 10am – 2pm
St. Mary’s Nutrition Center, Lewiston (details to follow)

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO IDENTIFY KEY FOOD ISSUES IN MAINE

Please take a couple minutes to fill out this Survey Monkey to let conference organizers know what issues are most important to you. Deadline for responding to the survey is Sunday, February 14. Full conference and registration information to follow.

MAINE FARMERS APPEAL FOR SUPPORT FOR FOOD FOR MAINE’S FUTURE

JOIN FOOD FOR MAINE’S FUTURE TODAY & HELP US RECEIVE A $35,000 CHALLENGE GRANT!

November 15, 2009

Dear Friend of Food For Maine’s Future,

Jim & Megan Gerritsen, Peter, Caleb, Sarah, Amy

Have you ever stopped to wonder what a sustainable and just food system for Maine would actually look like?  As farmers on an organic seed potato farm here in Aroostook County these kind of thoughts and dreams go hand in hand with the daily toil of our work. Food For Maine’s Future’s work is making the dreams happen.

Our Common Vision For Maine Food.

• Lots of thriving and diverse Farmers Markets across the State that go year around to satisfy shopper’s needs and extend cash flow for family farmers and food producers like bakers and fishers.

• Grocery stores and restaurants as enthusiastic local outlets for Maine grown and Maine produced food from fish to beef to milk to vegetables to jam and baked beans to bread and grains.

• High quality Maine grown nonGMO organic seed of vegetable and grain varieties that are delicious, high yielding and regionally adapted to Maine’s sometimes challenging growing conditions.

• Extensive Community Supported Agriculture subscription garden programs organized at work and at church that keep Maine people fed and create stable new markets for Maine family farmers.

• Common sense utilization of local sources of fertility such as manures; cover crops; fishery, wood and crop waste; and rock powders.

• School breakfasts, lunches and snacks that are nutritious, local and organic.

• Community safety nets that support elders and limited resource neighbors who should not have to choose between winter heat, medicine and healthy food.

• Strawberry Festivals, Lobster Festivals,  Ployes Festivals, Muskie Tournaments,  Maple Breakfasts, Harvest Suppers and all sorts of food centered community celebrations so numerous and iconic that Maine’s reputation for the good life becomes synonymous with Maine’s reputation for good food.

• A culture of stewardship of food production by organic and sustainable methods that keeps Maine’s water pure, our crops free of GMO and pesticide contamination, our soils fertile and thriving for future generations, and our woodlands healthy for fish and wildlife.

• Livestock raised humanely and with respect by family farmers on Maine grown nonGMO feed and processed at well run local family scale slaughter facilities.

• Access to capital for Maine food businesses and farmers by creating Slow Money opportunities for Mainer’s savings to be invested locally in building Maine’s food infrastructure.

• Affordable access to farmland for young and new farmers that allows purchase or long term tenure which encourages long term thinking and long term capital improvements such as farm buildings, wells and access roads.

• A future of hope, expectation and permanence so that next generation farmers and fishers are encouraged and confident in carrying forward their family’s heritage of food production.

• Societal recognition of the importance of local food production so that family farmers, fishers and their coworkers earn respect and incomes commensurate with their contributions to helping build secure and healthy communities.

• Schools that teach the lifelong lessons of gardening and nature, and the benefits of  food literacy  for the good of both individual and societal health and well-being.

Getting There From Here.
Food For Maine’s Future is committed  to bringing to fruition fresh ideas on food sovereignty for the State of Maine and beyond. With your help we can transform Maine’s food system into one that expresses our common values of justice, sustainability, food security and democracy.

The Maine Solution.
We all recognize that our Maine scale and attitude, our Maine land resources and abilities, make Maine uniquely suited among the fifty states to lead this country by example to an unprecedented era of dynamic food sovereignty.

You can make this happen. We hope you’ll join us by becoming  members of Food For Maine’s Future. Working together we can ensure Food For Maine’s Future continued successful work in promoting initiatives and programs that will make Maine food secure.  Your membership and generous contributions are our best investment for our children’s future and for a bright Maine ahead.

Jim & Megan Gerritsen
Wood Prairie Farm
Bridgewater, Maine

CLICK HERE TO JOIN FOOD FOR MAINE’S FUTURE!

Harvest Supper & Cello Performance to Benefit La Via Campesina Honduras Delegation

You are invited to a Harvest Supper at Central Hall in South Blue Hill on Saturday, November 14 beginning at 5:30pm. Following dinner, cellist and Blue Hill Wine Shop owner Max Treitler play a variety of selections for solo cello. The music will start at 7pm.

~ Menu ~
Organic, Local, Vegetarian options

Turkey Stew
Baked Beans
Maine Shrimp Cocktail
Seasonal Salads
Homemade Bread and Biscuits
Assorted Desserts
and More!

The suggested donation for the dinner and performance is a sliding scale $5-$50. Proceeds will benefit an upcoming La Via Campseina delegation to Honduras. For more information about La Via Campesina visit www.viacampesina.org.

Come for the cause or just come for the food and music! Both should be great so spread the word!

RSVP’s are not required but would be very helpful. Help is also appreciated.

Sign Petition Calling on MPBN To Air ‘The World According to Monsanto’

Thank you to everyone who signed our petition. We will keep you updated as we work with MPBN to get this important film on the air.

On October 16, 2009 Food for Maine’s Future and farmer, activist and MPBN Community Advisory Board member Ryan Parker held a joint press conference announcing a petition campaign asking Maine Public Broadcasting Network to pressure American Public Media to drop Monsanto as an underwriter and stop airing Monsanto’s deceptive, misleading advertising. We are also calling on MPBN to uphold its commitment to present both sides of issues and air on MPBN television “The World According to Monsanto” by French documentary film maker Marie-Monique Robin.