The great work of the Agricultural Council of Maine
To the editor:
My wife and I recently attended the Maine Coastal Agriculture Tour hosted by the Agricultural Council of Maine (AGCOM) for legislative candidates. Our day was spent touring such businesses as the Seacolors Yarnery at Meadowcraft Farm, a wild blueberry field at Seven Tree View Farm, Savage Oakes Vineyard and Winery, State of Maine Cheese, and Spear’s Vegetable Farm. The day ended with a boat ride on the Damariscotta River estuary to see aquaculture farms raising oysters and seaweeds and a tour of the University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center.
As a County boy who is more familiar with the commercial farming of potatoes and broccoli, I was impressed by the growing diversity of Maine agriculture and the business challenges that all Maine farmers face. I was further impressed by the knowledge and expertise that each of our hosts shared regarding their specific niche crop and the challenges that each of them faced in running the business that has become their primary source of income and livelihood. Upon returning home, I did some further research on the Agricultural Council of Maine, and was, once again, impressed by the scope of agriculture in Maine and the mission and goals of this organization.
In their published strategic plan “Growing Maine: Strategies for Expanding Maine’s Food and Farm Economy”, I found much interesting information about what challenges face all Maine farmers, regardless of the crops they raise. Among AGCOM’s goals are creating profitability in farming by developing new markets and improving efficiencies from harvest to consumption, increasing investment in R&D and capitalizing on unique advantages such as available land and water resources, supporting new farmers and the next generation of owners of existing agriculture-related businesses, and connecting local food with healthy eating while building connections between farmers and consumers.
As members of an agricultural community, we have a vested interest in protecting the critical natural resources that are essential for the continuing survival of our farms and related businesses. I encourage each of you to further explore the Agricultural Council of Maine and become more familiar with the excellent work they are doing on behalf of Maine agriculture and all of the people of Maine. I can guarantee that you will be as impressed as I was!
If I am fortunate enough to represent the citizens in District 147 (Presque Isle) in the next legislature, I pledge my support to organizations such as AGCOM and to Maine farmers, large and small, from Fort Kent to Kittery.
Larry K. Fox
Presque Isle
