The Local Food Switchboard (an initiative of the Maine Food Convergence Project), will streamline local food procurement, connect various interest-holders in Maine's food system, and increase local food sourcing in schools.

It will provide detailed information on: 

  • Food Businesses

  • Processing and other supply web infrastructure

  • Food system resources such as financial and technical assistance

An operator will be responsible for updating inventory and maintaining communications between supply web actors and schools. Besides increasing nourishing local food in schools, a key goal of the Switchboard is to build stronger connections with food producers and harvesters who face systemic barriers to capital due to racism, transphobia, ableism, classism, and immigration status. By fostering collaboration, the project aims to support infrastructure, equipment, market access, and resource needs, creating a more equitable and resilient food system.

Advisory Team

  • Susan Olcott

    Maine Coast Fishermen's Association

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  • Leah Rovner

    New England Food System Planners Partnership

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  • Courtney Crossgrove

    FocusMaine

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  • Abby Snell

    Fork Food Lab

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  • Sarah Speare

    Tootie's Tempeh

  • Brittany Peats

    Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

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  • Darcy Cooke

    The Maine Network of Community Food Councils

  • Mike Flynn

    Sheepscot Valley RSU #12

  • Katherine Bessey

    Cooperative Development Institute

  • Katie Knowles

    Maine Department of Education Child Nutrition

  • Katelyn Porter

    NH Food Alliance

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  • Doug Clopp

    Maine Farm & Sea Cooperative

  • Chris Linder

    Cooperative Fund of the Northeast

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Goals of the Switchboard Project

  • Build relationships with food supply chain actors across Maine

  • Identify opportunities to maximize the use of existing food infrastructure and equipment across Maine; supporting small business access to infrastructure and markets

  • Increase local food procurement in Maine schools

  • Increase food system efficiency and decrease input costs for processors by supporting expanded food storage and processing infrastructure and the movement of seconds or excess fresh product for processing

  • Provide data on food supply chain needs so that investors, policymakers and service providers have a better understanding of where resources can be deployed for greatest impact

Timeline of Project

Year 1: Research & Design

> Gather an advisory team

> Design the infrastructure, product, and resources inventory process, data points, and interface of the Maine Food Atlas.

> Determine locations for cold storage units

> Conduct data gathering with high school student research teams and local food councils.

Year 2: Pilot Year

> Pilot services focused on school procurement

> Purchase and place 2 cold storage units

> Continue gathering inventory data

Year 3: Full Implementation/Scaling

> Scale up participation and membership in the Switchboard platform

> Purchase and place 2 more cold storage units

> Leverage insights from years 1 and 2 to develop a sustainable fundraising and revenue strategy.

> Enhance the Switchboard's functionality and outreach efforts based on user feedback.

Year 4: Project Sustaining & Report Release

> Increase participation/membership 

> Purchase and place 2 final cold storage units

> Conduct analysis of project outcomes and release a report

Local Food Switchboard Project was awarded funding by Full Plates Full Potential and The USDA Food System Innovation Grant! This is part of the USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentive Initiative’s School Food System Transformation Challenge. 

This project is funded using U.S. Department of Agriculture Grant Funds.

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