Food and Agriculture

UPDATE: Read the bipartisan letter sent to the Farm Bill conferees in support of including LAMP in final legislation. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), local food was a $8.7 billion market for farmers in 2015.  This market does not show signs of slowing down, as USDA estimates that the local food market will reach $20 billion in sales by 2019.… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) released the following statement in response to USDA’s plan to offer $12 billion in relief to farmers harmed in the wake of the Administration’s trade actions.  “While I appreciate the USDA for finally offering some relief to farmers who have been harmed by retaliatory tariffs, this effort is an acknowledgment of the costs of… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) announced today that two farms in her District will receive USDA Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grants to expand their businesses and launch new product lines. Pingree has been steadfast in her opposition to proposed cuts to this vital program, which has a track record of helping rural businesses succeed and hire more workers. “Farmers… Read more »

The Congressional Hunger Center tonight honored Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) with the Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Leadership Award for her efforts to provide people facing food insecurity with access to nutritious food. Read more »

 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement after the House narrowly passed Farm Bill legislation in a 213-211 vote today: “It's extremely disappointing to see House Republicans resurrect and pass their partisan Farm Bill today—especially when the other chamber has produced bipartisan legislation that better addresses the opportunities and… Read more »

Congresswoman Pingree has openly pushed the agency to change the requirement Read more »

A number of agriculture reforms to support local food and organic farming written by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME), and mirrored in Senate companion legislation, have been included in the Senate Farm Bill released today.  “I applaud the Senate on showing what a bipartisan process for the Farm Bill can produce. I certainly wish the House had done the same. The Senate… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) welcomed over $65,000 in USDA Rural Development funds to help farms and other rural businesses in Bowdoinham, Cumberland and Freeport cuts costs through renewable power systems. During recent debate on the House’s failed Farm Bill, Pingree had advocated for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) that provides the grants—the legislation… Read more »

Engine, a nonprofit organization in Biddeford, will receive technical support from Local Food, Local Places (LFLP), a federal initiative that that helps communities reinvest in existing neighborhoods and improve quality of life as they develop the local food economy. Read more »

“I’m glad this partisan legislation did not pass. It would have taken food assistance away from millions of Americans, weakened environmental stewardship of the nation’s farmlands, and left Maine farmers and rural communities ill-prepared for the challenges and the opportunities of the next five years. ..." Read more »