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CEI has a long history supporting Maine
farms, stretching back to some of our earliest projects (from the late 1970s
and early 1980s). We provide both financing in the form of loans and targeted business advice on a variety of topics.
In 1995, CEI created a special program called the Maine
Farms Project to specifically target this important sector. Tremendous opportunities exist within
Maine agriculture for business development, as well as for improving our environment and supporting our rural communities.
From 1995 to 2004, CEI's Maine Farms Project has supported over 350
Maine farmers with a broad array
of services, which include:
- business planning
- marketing assistance
- graphic design (for logos, brochures, and more)
- farmer training
- financing (grants and
loans)
- special projects (often targeting farmers in a specific
region)
The focus of CEI's work has been on small and medium-sized
farms that are trying to innovate or access new markets, or on new farmers who
are just starting out. A recent thrust has involved new immigrants who once
farmed in their native countries, but need assistance to become farmers in Maine. CEI works with both conventional and organic growers.
Through the Maine Farms Project, CEI has also been involved
in activities that go beyond direct services provided to farmers. These include
efforts that:
- preserve farmland
- increase consumer purchasing of local farm products
- raise awareness about community food security
- create positive changes in state and federal agricultural
policy
CEI accomplishes this work in partnership with many other
organizations. Major partners include:
Eat Local Foods Coalition of Maine
Maine Department of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Resources
Maine Farmland
Trust
Maine Small
Business Development
Centers
Maine Organic
Farmers & Gardeners' Association
University of Maine
Cooperation Extension
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Lewiston Farmers Market - More than a place to buy produce |
In the spring of 2004, the Lewiston Farmers Market opened for its first season.
Every Monday afternoon in Kennedy Park, a half a dozen vendors sold
vegetables, flowers and specialty foods. Amid the lettuce, honey and
sunflowers, were farmers from as near as Sabattus and as far as
Guatemala. Where else in Maine would you find a farmers market with
vendors from eleven countries: Honduras, Costa Rica, Mexico, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Peru, Colombia, Sudan, and Somalia as
well as the US. They are all part of CEI's New Americans Sustainable
Agriculture Project (NASAP), which helps "new" refugee and immigrant
farmers build their technical and business skills, find land for
growing, and markets for selling their products.
Through its Americorps/VISTA program, CEI organized the market
as a way to bring fresh, locally grown food into a predominantly low
income urban neighborhood and create a new venue for small farmers. A
lot of work goes into setting up a market. CEI organized the farmers,
worked with the City, set-up a non-profit organization, designed a
logo, helped develop the market processes and procedures, and made sure
farmers could accept food stamps.
A big event at this year's market was the creation of the
NASAP mural, funded by Heifer International. More than 40 people,
including farmers, children and community members, joined with
Maine-based artist Natasha Mayers to create a mural depicting flags,
vegetables, symbols and people of the countries represented at Maine's
newest farmers market.
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Philosophy and Programs 
Maine Legislature Passes Model Anti-Predatory Lending Bill.