Community Profiles
The 2022 Community Profile highlights the most recent data and information regarding food security in Maine, Cumberland County, and specifically Portland.
If you are curious about food security in your own community, let us know and we'd be happy to develop a profile for you to share with your community. Email adele@ccfoodsecurity.org for more information.
If you are curious about food security in your own community, let us know and we'd be happy to develop a profile for you to share with your community. Email adele@ccfoodsecurity.org for more information.
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How to Access & Support Local Food
Check out the "Maine Farm Product & Pick Up Directory" below - a wonderful resource from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension that allows you to find farms near you and information on where to access their products.
Purchase a CSA! Below is a list of CSAs available in Cumberland County. If you are a farmer and want your CSA on this list, please email info@ccfoodsecurity.org.
Purchase a CSA! Below is a list of CSAs available in Cumberland County. If you are a farmer and want your CSA on this list, please email info@ccfoodsecurity.org.
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Farms In Cumberland County
Alewive's Brook Farm (Cape Elizabeth) Bumbleroot Organic Farm (Windham) Frith Farm (Scarborough) Green Spark Farm (Cape Elizabeth) Hancock Family Farm (Casco) Winslow Farm (Falmouth) Wolfe’s Neck Center (Freeport) |
Farms Outside Cumberland County (with CC pickup or market option)
Cornerstone Farm (Palmrya) Dandelion Spring Farm (Bowdoinham) Goranson Farm (Dresden) Harvest Tide Organics (Bowdoingham) Old Wells Farm (Limington) Whatley Farm (Topsham) Willow Pond Farm (Sabattus) Wolf Pine (Alfred) Fairwinds (Bowdoinham) |
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Attend your local farmers market! To find a market or more information about farmers markets in Maine, click the image below.
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Grow your own food! MOFGA and UMaine Cooperative Extension both have great resources and events to help you grow your own food.
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Support local restaurants! Search the Portland Food Map to find and support local businesses that are still open.
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COVID-19 Translated Information & Materials
More translated resources by Maine Immigrants Rights Coalition.
Statement on COVID-19 from Executive Director, Jim Hanna
As COVID19 inspires fear and uncertainty in Maine communities and beyond, CCFSC remains focused on ensuring food access for people with limited income and others vulnerable to food insecurity. Nutritious food is a basic need and essential to health and wellness. As routine food access is disrupted by the spread of the virus, the most economically vulnerable are the first to suffer and the last to recover in times like this.
We know what it will take to end hunger. It should not require a national level emergency to force us to make basic investments in the economic and nutrition safety net. In Maine, nearly 186,000 people representing about 14 percent of the population experienced food insecurity in 2019. These members of our communities are part of the 37 million Americans who struggle with food insecurity.
On March 12, the US Congress proposed legislation that would increase the likelihood that low-income children, working people, seniors and families get access to nutritious meals during this crisis. Increasing and expanding SNAP, creating new ways to get children meals when school is closed and providing paid leave for people who have to deal with sickness are good ideas in an emergency and anytime.
At the same time, the Trump administration is still on track to implement the change in SNAP eligibility requirements which would take food benefits away from hundreds of thousands of people starting April 1. We also know from experience that, while food banks and pantries are the vanguard of emergency response in communities, they lack the capacity to meet all the need when stressed like this. Don’t forget that the majority of volunteers are senior citizens who are most vulnerable to the worst effects of the virus. We must make sure pantries and other food distribution points have the necessary resources. This would also be a good time to implement innovative ideas that have lacked investment like subsidized food delivery to seniors.
Calling 211 in Maine will connect you to food and other resources. You can also text your zip code to 1-800-548-6479 to locate a local emergency food provider and other support services. CCFSC has developed a Portland specific food resource guide. There is also a Cumberland County guide for food pantries on our web site.
It is important to rally now to keep our vulnerable neighbors healthy and secure. We also will need to remember these efforts as we develop solutions that will make food and economic insecurity a thing of the past. This commitment to healthy food for all must be in place whether we are experiencing a pandemic, a natural disaster or the normal rhythms of everyday life.
To learn more, you read Jim Hanna's Op-Ed in the Press Herald.
We know what it will take to end hunger. It should not require a national level emergency to force us to make basic investments in the economic and nutrition safety net. In Maine, nearly 186,000 people representing about 14 percent of the population experienced food insecurity in 2019. These members of our communities are part of the 37 million Americans who struggle with food insecurity.
On March 12, the US Congress proposed legislation that would increase the likelihood that low-income children, working people, seniors and families get access to nutritious meals during this crisis. Increasing and expanding SNAP, creating new ways to get children meals when school is closed and providing paid leave for people who have to deal with sickness are good ideas in an emergency and anytime.
At the same time, the Trump administration is still on track to implement the change in SNAP eligibility requirements which would take food benefits away from hundreds of thousands of people starting April 1. We also know from experience that, while food banks and pantries are the vanguard of emergency response in communities, they lack the capacity to meet all the need when stressed like this. Don’t forget that the majority of volunteers are senior citizens who are most vulnerable to the worst effects of the virus. We must make sure pantries and other food distribution points have the necessary resources. This would also be a good time to implement innovative ideas that have lacked investment like subsidized food delivery to seniors.
Calling 211 in Maine will connect you to food and other resources. You can also text your zip code to 1-800-548-6479 to locate a local emergency food provider and other support services. CCFSC has developed a Portland specific food resource guide. There is also a Cumberland County guide for food pantries on our web site.
It is important to rally now to keep our vulnerable neighbors healthy and secure. We also will need to remember these efforts as we develop solutions that will make food and economic insecurity a thing of the past. This commitment to healthy food for all must be in place whether we are experiencing a pandemic, a natural disaster or the normal rhythms of everyday life.
To learn more, you read Jim Hanna's Op-Ed in the Press Herald.
COVID-19 & the Food System
For more information, please visit this living document that includes links to articles and research about COVID-19 is impacting and affecting the food system.
