Presentation from Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) on Local and Regional Food Systems featured in an American Farmland Trust webinar on the farm bill in the Northeast on December 19, 2011.

1. Congresswoman
Chellie Pingree
Member of the House
Agriculture Committee
Subcommittee on
{
Nutrition and
Horticulture
Subcommittee on
Conservation, Energy and
Forestry

2. Chellie Pingree came to Maine in the 1970s,
inspired by Helen and Scott Nearing’s book
Living the Good Life.
With a degree in human ecology from the College of the Atlantic, she started an
organic farm on the island of North Haven. Selling produce to summer residents
and raising sheep for wool turned into a thriving mail order knitting business
that eventually employed ten people in her small community.
Chellie is still an organic farmer and small business owner today, owning and
operating the Nebo Inn and Restaurant on North Haven, which features locally
grown food from her farm.

3. Chellie is committed to helping reform farm policy with interests of
small farmers and consumers in mind Working to support and
promote local food systems in the 2012 Farm
Local Farms Food, and Jobs Act

4. The Local
Farms, Food, and
Jobs Ac was
introduced on
November 1, 2011
by Congresswoman
Chellie Pingree &
Senator Sherrod
Brown

5. Local Farms, Food and Jobs

6. The Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act will improve federal
farm bill programs that support local and regional farm
and food systems. This legislation will help farmers and
ranchers engaged in local and regional agriculture by
addressing production, aggregation, processing,
marketing, and distribution needs and will also assist
consumers by improving access to healthy food and direct
and retail markets. And of utmost importance, this
legislation will provide more secure funding for critically
important programs that support family farms, expand
new farming opportunities, and invest in the local
agriculture economy.
Local Farms, Food and Jobs

7. The Benefits of Local and
Regional Food Systems
Local and regional agriculture is a major
economic driver in the farm economy.
There are now more than 7,000 farmers
markets throughout the United States—a
150 percent increase since 2000, direct to
consumer sales have accounted for more
than $1.2 billion in annual revenues. Now,
on the heels of that expansion, we are
witnessing the rapid growth of local and
regional food markets that have scaled up
beyond direct marketing. Together these
markets represent important new job
growth and economic development.
Local Farms, Food and Jobs

8. The Local Farms Food, and
Jobs Act will
 Boost Income
Opportunities for
Farmers and Rancher
 Improve Local and
Regional Food System
Infrastructure and
Markets
 Expand Access to
Healthy Foods for
Consumers
 Enhance Agriculture
Research and Extension
Local Farms, Food and Jobs

9. 2012 Farm Bill

10. Questions?