The 2025 Local Food Count is Here!
The count relies on partners like you!
From January - April 2026, we’re inviting all businesses and organizations in Maine to take part in the 2025 Local Food Count.
How to ‘Get Counted’ this year:
Step 1: Gather your 2025 local food data
See below for details on what you will be asked to share
Step 2: Send your information to the research team
Take the Survey! (enter your data directly, or upload files in their current format, through our online portal)
Complete a worksheet (see below) and email that to us at MELocalFoodCounts@gmail.com (or directly to the lead research analyst: Scott Richardson scott@northboundventures.com)
Email us to find out other options for sending or uploading existing files
Deadline: April 30th, 2026
*Data submitted by businesses and organizations for the Local Food Count is analyzed by a team from Northbound Ventures Consulting LLC and Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF). Data from individual entities is aggregated and analyzed using a methodology developed for VSJF and used for its Local Food Count studies in 2010, 2014, 2017 and 2020.Gather your 2025 data
What counts as ‘local’?
Download a guide to learn more about how the project defines ‘local’.
What data is needed?
Our goal is to capture the percentage (in $) of local and regional foods and beverages sold in each state in New England.
Download a ‘worksheet’ to help you collect your total, local, and regional purchase or sales figures.
“What Gets Measured, Gets Managed: Inside the Local Food Count Project” - webinar hosted by partners at the NH Food Alliance about the 2025 Local Food Count and how businesses and organizations can get involved (more info here).
Want to learn more?
Who can participate?
If your business or organization buys or sells food in Maine, you can be part of a regional effort to expand food production and processing in our region. This includes:
Grocery Retailers
Restaurants
Schools, Colleges and Universities
Hospitals and Healthcare Organizations
Distributors and Food Hubs
GET COUNTED IN THE 2025 LOCAL FOOD COUNT
The Local Food Count works with businesses and organizations to estimate statewide sales and purchases of food and beverage products grown, harvested, produced and/or processed in Maine and New England.
Farmers, fishers, local food producers and processors are important to the Maine economy and support stronger food supply chains for distributors and retailers. Sales and purchase data can illuminate important trends in product demand and availability, and in sales of local food over time. This information can be used by businesses, organizations and policy makers to improve decision making and inform public programs and investments.
Who is involved?
The Local Food Count takes place across New England - in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
GET COUNTED IN THE 2025 LOCAL FOOD COUNT
The Count is coordinated at the regional level by the New England Food System Planners Partnership, a collaborative of food system planning organizations and state agencies across the region.
Maine Food Convergence participates in the Partnership, along with Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Maine’s first Local Food Count took place in 2022-23. Researchers estimated that in 2022, just 3.4% of total food spending in Maine went for products grown, harvested or processed in Maine and New England.
Find out more:
Visit the Local Food Count webpage for updates across New England
Email us at MELocalFoodCounts@gmail.com with any questions
Follow for Maine project updates:
Read and share resources to support local food procurement
