‘Devastating’ Cuts Hit Maine’s Fresh Food Supply Chain

PORTLAND, Maine — Organizations across Maine dedicated to fighting food insecurity are facing a major setback after a sudden cut to a federal program that helped deliver fresh, locally grown food to needy families.

The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) provided critical funding to groups like the Cultivating Community in Portland and the Somali Bantu Community Association in Lewiston. The program enabled them to buy produce from local farmers and distribute it to food-insecure Mainers, supporting both families and agriculture.

“Access to fresh, local, culturally familiar foods should be a right, not a privilege,” said Silvan Shawe, executive director of Cultivating Community. Her organization received $75,000 through LFPA last year.

The funding not only sustained local food systems but also helped bridge the growing gap in food access.