Join the Conversation: Local Food Switchboard Comes to Blue Hill
The Maine Food Convergence Project recently launched Local Food Switchboard, a brand-new Maine initiative focused on connecting fishermen, farmers, and food businesses to processing, storage, and distribution infrastructure, markets, and resources. The Switchboard will take the form of an online platform, map, and database that will help to streamline local food procurement and facilitate connections across Maine’s food system. There will also be a Switchboard “Operator” who will help to coordinate supply chain logistics and long-term maintenance of the platform, with an initial focus on local food procurement by public schools.
This spring, the Switchboard team is hosting community gatherings across the state to learn directly from local food producers, distributors, and buyers about how this project can best serve them. Feedback from these “Research Roadshow” events will inform the development of the Local Food Switchboard.
The next Research Roadshow event will be held on Wednesday, June 4, from 4 to 6 p.m., at Blue Hill Co-op, 70 South Street, Blue Hill. Community members are invited to gather, eat some delicious food, and share your expertise and experience in the local food system here in Hancock County!
Other details: Snacks will be provided, with a variety of options to meet dietary needs. As appreciation for your participation, the Switchboard will offer a $60 Blue Hill Co-op gift card for your time at the event ($40 to help cover the cost of logistics and $20 for travel and child and elder care). If you require accommodations such as translation or transportation, please email localfoodswitchboard@gmail.com. It’s critical to the Switchboard project that this event is accessible to all who would like to attend.
And if you want to participate but can’t join us in person, email us at localfoodswitchboard@gmail.com and we’ll schedule a phone call!
Questions? Please contact Lucy Flores at localfoodswitchboard@gmail.com or (207) 200-9372.