MORNING SENTINEL • May 9, 2022
As Maine farmers continue to face PFAS contamination, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and the Maine Farmland Trust have raised more than $1 million to support farmers, a large part of which was raised through a partnership with The Lost Kitchen, a restaurant in Freedom. There is a growing need for farms to test animals, produce, water and soil for PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” but it can be expensive, and people often need financial help if they have to pivot their business while also supporting a family. Established earlier this year by MOFGA and MFT, the fund has disbursed more than $300,000 to assist farmers through three programs: a testing program, an income-replacement program and mental health assistance.