Building Farm-to-School Connections in Hancock County and Beyond

Healthy Acadia’s Sandy Fortin, HEAL Program Coordinator, recently co-facilitated a regional school and farm matchmaking event on March 13 in partnership with the Maine Department of Education Regional Local Foods Project. The event brought together farmers, food producers, and school nutrition teams to strengthen connections and expand access to fresh, local foods in Maine schools.

One example highlighted at the event comes from right here in Hancock County. Rosie Villano, Downeast FarmDrop Manager, shared how their “small but mighty” partnership with Mount Desert Elementary in AOS 91 is making a difference. Through this collaboration, the school is able to order fresh, local items like salad greens, spring mix, scallions, and cherry tomatoes in small, flexible quantities.

This model works because it builds on FarmDrop’s existing retail delivery system. Each week, deliveries to Mount Desert Island serve both individual customers and the school, allowing staff like Chef Tasha Higgins to pick up school orders alongside regular deliveries. This approach creates an efficient, affordable way for schools to access local food while supporting Maine farmers.

These kinds of partnerships are exactly what the Regional Local Foods Project aims to grow. By connecting schools with producers and distributors, the initiative helps increase the use of Maine-grown and Maine-harvested foods in school meals, while also strengthening local food systems.

You can read more about the event and additional examples from across the state in the full article from the Maine Department of Education:
https://mainedoenews.net/2026/04/03/maine-doe-hosts-successful-regional-farmer-school-matchmaking-event-in-bangor/

Expanding Access to Local Seafood

In addition to supporting farm-to-school connections, Sandy recently coordinated the distribution of more than 500 pounds of free frozen seafood from the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association to six school districts across the region. The distribution also included value-added products such as Hurricane soups and stew, as well as items from Graffam Bros., including fishcakes and “Fishtots.”

Taste tests facilitated through Sandy’s work as a Regional Local Food Coordinator have shown something important: most kids do like fish. These experiences are helping to shift long-standing assumptions and open the door for more Maine seafood to be featured in school meals.

All of these products qualify for the state’s Local Foods Fund, which reimburses schools for 50% of purchases of Maine-grown and Maine-harvested foods, up to $10,000 per district. This funding makes it easier for schools to try new local options while supporting the state’s food economy.

School Nutrition Directors and Managers interested in learning more can reach out to Sandy at Sandy.Fortin@healthyacadia.org. School districts that would like to participate in the Regional Local Foods Project can contact Sandy.Fortin@maine.gov.

Together, these efforts are helping to connect schools, students, and local food in ways that support health, learning, and Maine’s food system.