MAINE PUBLIC • March 12, 2025
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is ending two national programs that help food banks and schools in Maine — and around the country — purchase produce from local farmers. USDA told Maine officials and partners that it has terminated the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. It helped Good Shepherd Food Bank buy produce from about 100 Maine farmers, which is then distributed to local food banks around the state. "That program is incredibly important to the state of Maine, both in food today — food that we source and distribute today — and in food tomorrow, which is the economic viability for those 100 farmers and for our partner agencies to experience fresh, nutritious produce," said Good Shepherd President Heather Paquette. At the same time, the food bank recently learned USDA will stop delivering about 1 million pounds of food through the Emergency Food Assistance Program to Maine.