PRESS RELEASE
April 27, 2011
GrowSmart Maine
309 Cumberland Avenue
Suite 202
Portland, ME 04101
CONTACT: Kimberly Ballard
Testimony of Nancy Smith, Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine
in favor of LD 1446,
“An Act To Establish the Maine Farm and Fish to School Program”
April 27, 2011
Senator Langley, Representative Richardson and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. My name is Nancy Smith and I am the Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine. As many of you know from our previous interactions with the committee, GrowSmart Maine is a statewide non-profit membership-based organization working to grow Maine's economy, protect its distinctive character, and enhance our state's quality places. I regret that previously scheduled commitments prevent me or other GrowSmart Maine representatives from presenting this testimony at today’s Public Hearing.
As a part of our commitment to strengthening Maine’s economy, GrowSmart Maine is particularly enthusiastic about well grounded, thoughtful and creative proposals which seek to grow the economy in a sustainable manner while at the same time preserving our state’s unique character and quality of place. We believe this bill fits that description . By creating a mechanism to enable schools to purchase more local foods for students, the success is measured in several ways. Our children are able to eat food that is more healthful, our farmers and fishermen are able to market their production locally. With healthier kids and stronger local small businesses, our communities are stronger as a result.
We see LD 1446 as a commendable effort to enable schools of all grade levels in Maine to develop and implement procurement strategies to increase access to a broader range of Maine grown and harvested foods.
Please contact me with any questions regarding GrowSmart Maine’s support for LD 1446.
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