The Local Food Switchboard is a food supply chain coordination platform that connects Maine’s food system to buy and sell local foods more easily. It streamlines and verifies procurement data and logistics while providing tailored support. By shifting from competition to coordination, the platform builds reliable market connections and a more equitable, resilient, and relationship-based food system.

Goals of the Switchboard Project

  • Build relationships between food supply chain actors across Maine

  • Identify opportunities to maximize the use of existing food infrastructure and equipment across Maine; supporting small business access to infrastructure and markets

  • Increase local food procurement in Maine schools

  • Increase food system efficiency and decrease input costs for processors by supporting expanded food storage and processing infrastructure and the movement of seconds or excess fresh product for processing

  • Provide data on food supply chain needs so that investors, policymakers and service providers have a better understanding of where resources can be deployed for greatest impact

Advisory Team

  • Susan Olcott

    Maine Coast Fishermen's Association

    Read Interview

  • Leah Rovner

    New England Food System Planners Partnership

    Read Interview

  • Courtney Crossgrove

    FocusMaine

    Read Interview

  • Abby Snell

    Fork Food Lab

    Read Interview

  • Sarah Speare

    Tootie's Tempeh

  • Brittany Peats

    Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

    Read Interview

  • Darcy Cooke

    The Maine Network of Community Food Councils

  • Mike Flynn

    Sheepscot Valley RSU #12

  • Katherine Bessey

    Cooperative Development Institute

  • Katie Knowles

    Maine Department of Education Child Nutrition

  • Katelyn Porter

    NH Food Alliance

    Read Interview

  • Chris Linder

    Cooperative Fund of the Northeast

    Read Interview

  • Alida Peterson

    Healthy Communities of the Capital Area

    Click Here

  • Juliana Beecher

    Central Operator

  • Rae Sage

    Central Operator

  • Lucy Flores

    Equity Consultant

Sign Up for the Local Food Switchboard Substack Newsletter!

Read all newsletter posts HERE

Local Food Switchboard Project was awarded funding by Full Plates Full Potential and The USDA Food System Innovation Grant! This is part of the USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentive Initiative’s School Food System Transformation Challenge. 

This project is funded using U.S. Department of Agriculture Grant Funds.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender