Maine Food Security

There has been a large focus on food security recently in Maine. “Food security,” as defined by the USDA, is “access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle” (Maine Department of Agriculture). In Maine, if food availability and accessibility locally increased, than there would be a greater possibility of food security. Local food systems may help improve food security by making local food affordable and available to populations with limited access to healthy food. Bringing local food into education could help the future be more food secure because people will be more educated about it. Food insecurity has always been an issue around the world. The Health Division of the League of Nations took a survey, and a report on “Nutrition and Public Health” was submitted in 1935. The report showed that there was an acute food shortage in the poor countries, this was the first account of the extent of hunger and …show more content…
The number of Mainers who are food insecure has increased significantly in recent years. In Maine, the USDA reports 16.2% of households, or more than 208,000 individuals, are counted as not having enough food. Nearly one in every 4 children are food insecure (Gundersen). Only 22.7% of low-income people ($50,000) eat the recommended amount (Eaton et al). Food insecurity is a serious problem in the state of Maine, but local farming is becoming increasingly popular at a time when there is a thriving national program that allows low-income people to use government-funded credits to buy fresh produce at farmers’ markets (Love, 14). Part of the problem with food insecurity in Maine is that unhealthy food is now cheaper than healthy food. The most affordable food on grocery store shelves is often the least nutritious, and it is proving to be the most costly for our health (Hinsley,