Good news for local food in Maine! On Friday, June 16, Gov. Paul LePage signed LD 725, an Act to Recognize Local Control Regarding Food Systems. The bill will become law 90 days after adjournment, but towns can pass Local Food and Community Self Governance Ordinances (LFCSGO) now with assurance that the state will recognize their validity. Right now, some six towns are working on local LFCSGO campaigns, which defend the legality of face-to-face, farmer-to-consumer sales of meat, dairy, and prepared products. Nineteen towns have already passed the ordinance.
Local Food RULES organizers encourage anyone who's thinking about introducing the ordinance to share this good news with town officials, and to contact them with questions--they are prepared to help.
In the meantime, the Local Food RULES campaign asks Maine residents to write to the Governor and thank him for his signature, and to contact state legislators as well, to thank them for their votes. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate, and 108-35 in the House. You can find out how your representative voted here.
In a statement, organizers thanked the bill sponsor, Sen. Troy Jackson for introducing it and guiding it through the process; as Minority Leader in the Senate, noting that it was work on top of a very busy session and he gave this issue a very generous amount of time. They also recognized co-sponsors Rep. Michelle Dunphy, Rep. Craig Hickman, Sen. Brian Langley, Rep. John Martin, and Sen. David Miramant.
Organizers also thanked the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, and the countless people who passed LFCSGOs locally, or responded to "constant please to write to people. Grassroots democracy at its best!"
Local Food RULES organizers encourage anyone who's thinking about introducing the ordinance to share this good news with town officials, and to contact them with questions--they are prepared to help.
In the meantime, the Local Food RULES campaign asks Maine residents to write to the Governor and thank him for his signature, and to contact state legislators as well, to thank them for their votes. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate, and 108-35 in the House. You can find out how your representative voted here.
In a statement, organizers thanked the bill sponsor, Sen. Troy Jackson for introducing it and guiding it through the process; as Minority Leader in the Senate, noting that it was work on top of a very busy session and he gave this issue a very generous amount of time. They also recognized co-sponsors Rep. Michelle Dunphy, Rep. Craig Hickman, Sen. Brian Langley, Rep. John Martin, and Sen. David Miramant.
Organizers also thanked the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, and the countless people who passed LFCSGOs locally, or responded to "constant please to write to people. Grassroots democracy at its best!"
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