The Maine Food Convergence Project is announcing the launch of the Local Food Switchboard — a Maine-based initiative dedicated to strengthening Maine's local food system by connecting fishermen, farmers, and food businesses with the infrastructure, markets, and resources they need to thrive. 

Facilitated by the Maine Food Convergence Project and supported by the US Department of Agriculture and Full Plates Full Potential, this project will take the form of an easy‑to‑use online platform — complete with an interactive map and searchable database that focuses on expanding market access and fostering real-time communication between producers and institutional buyers, including K–12 schools, colleges, health care systems, carceral facilities, and local retailers.

In its pilot phase, a dedicated Switchboard Operator will help maintain up-to-date inventories and coordinate supply-and-demand connections with K–12 schools.

This spring, Maine Food Convergence Project's team is hosting in‑person community gatherings across the state, conducting focus groups and one‑on‑one interviews, and distributing a survey — all to learn firsthand from local food producers, distributors, and buyers about how this project can best serve them. These insights will directly shape the development of the Local Food Switchboard. Participants can receive a stipend.

This summer, Maine Food Convergence Project's team will facilitate the co-design of the Local Food Switchboard, collaboratively creating a solution that meets the needs and desires of local food system practitioners.

In the fall, Maine Food Convergence Project will build out the Local Food Switchboard and pilot a first iteration.

If you work in the local food system as a farmer, producer, distributor, school nutrition staff, institutional buyer, and/or other community partner, Maine Food Convergence would like to collaborate with you.

• Learn more on Maine Food Convergence Project's website
• Stay up to date on details of all "roadshow" events
• RSVP for an in-person event or engage with the Switchboard development process in another way

Questions? Please reach out to the Switchboard team at localfoodswitchboard@gmail.com.