Food and Agriculture

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today applauded the EPA’s decision to withdraw its approval of Dow Chemical’s Enlist Duo, a toxic cocktail of herbicides glyphosate and 2,4-D.  “This product—and the GMO crops developed to go along with it—has raised a number of alarm bells. From the onset, I’ve had grave concerns that it would increase the amount of… Read more »

The following piece was sent to area newspapers in November 2015. Here are two figures that don’t add up: 40 percent of the food produced in the United States gets thrown out while nearly 50 million Americans can’t reliably access enough food to meet their nutrition needs.   As so many people go hungry, wasted food represents a serious concern and an exciting… Read more »

Congresswoman Pingree and Colleagues Condemn Voluntary GMO Labeling, Push for Mandatory GMO Labeling Read more »

Food Policy Action names Pingree a 'food policy champion,' chef Tom Colicchio calls Pingree 'rock star' Read more »

Comprehensive legislation attacks food waste in schools, restaurants, stores and farms Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that she will be introducing comprehensive legislation this fall to attack the problem of wasted food.  "About 40% of the food in the U.S. is wasted.  That costs us money, is bad for the environment, and means people are going hungry when… Read more »

Seven Maine organizations are receiving over $700,000 in federal investments to promote the local food economy thanks to funding Congresswoman Chellie Pingree was able to insert in the Farm Bill that passed Congress in2014. "Every dollar we put into the local food economy stays in our community and generates jobs and income for the people who live here.  Building the farm economy is… Read more »

Representatives Chellie Pingree (D–ME) and Thomas Massie (R–KY), and a bipartisan coalition of 16 other lawmakers have reintroduced legislation to improve consumer food choices and to protect local farmers from federal interference. The two bills–the Milk Freedom of Act of 2015 (H.R. 3563) and the Interstate Milk Freedom Act of 2015 (H.R. 3564)–are the newest in a… Read more »

Yesterday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released new food safety rules that primarily impact food manufacturers.  A separate set of rules that will have a bigger impact on farms is due out next month. These rules are part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).   "I'm still looking over the details of these rules but one big change from what the FDA had… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is giving the Gulf of Maine Research Institute a $192,000 federal grant to work on the development of high-end sashimi-grade markets for Maine seafood. Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree introduced a bipartisan bill today to help schools in Maine and around the country modernize and expand their kitchens.  The bill would provide funding for schools that want to buy kitchen equipment and provide training on how to cook fresh meals from scratch.  A national survey found that 88 percent of school districts need at least one piece of… Read more »