AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine can't afford to fund an expansion of so-called food hubs where small-scale farmers can store, cut or clean their products and more easily distribute them to larger markets, though the idea has merit, Republican lawmakers said Thursday. But Democrats say they're determined to find a way to pay for the plan during this session.
The goal of the bill is provide more local foods to Maine schools by creating a $6 million bond issue and providing grants that would allow groups to start the hubs, where small farmers can aggregate their products for distribution. It would also fund programs to train schools' food service workers on the preparation and procurement of Maine-grown foods.
Supporters say the benefits in the bill are clear: It would provide more Maine students access to fresher, healthier vegetables and promote small businesses and the local economy. But several Republican lawmakers on the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, which put off a final vote on the bill until later, raised concerns about the nearly $400,000 price tag this fiscal year, most of which would fund studies on the feasibility of a food hub in certain parts of the state.
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