The Local Food Switchboard is a food supply chain coordination platform that helps people across Maine's food system work together to buy and sell local food more easily. By shifting from competition to coordination, the Switchboard encourages collaboration, transparency, and community-building. It provides support such as technical assistance, and access to infrastructure and institutional markets especially for producers and processors who have faced systemic barriers to capital and market access. The Switchboard creates reliable sales channels, new market connections, and a more equitable, resilient, and relationship-based food system for Maine.

Background & History

The Local Food Switchboard grew out of years of conversations within the Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Network and the Maine Food Convergence Project's Local Food Processing Workgroup. School nutrition directors, farmers, fishers, processors, and community leaders repeatedly identified the same challenge: Maine has incredible food producers and infrastructure, but no central place to connect the dots. Supply chains are fragmented, information is scattered, and bottlenecks in cold storage, processing, and distribution limit local sourcing.

The platform provides visibility, coordination, and connection across the system, supported by Switchboard operators who build trust, enable forward contracting, and link producers, buyers, and infrastructure. By streamlining local procurement and centering equity, the Switchboard strengthens Maine's food system and expands opportunities for those historically excluded.

Getting Started

New to the Switchboard? Check out our Quick Summary guide for a simple overview of the platform and how to use it.

Who Benefits from Using the Local Food Switchboard?

Support & Funding

Local Food Switchboard Project was awarded funding by Full Plates Full Potential and The USDA School Food System Innovation Grant. This is part of the USDA's Healthy Meals Incentive Initiative's School Food System Transformation Challenge. This project is funded using U.S. Department of Agriculture Grant Funds.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

Implemented By

The Local Food Switchboard is a project of the Maine Food Convergence Project.

Connect With Us

Stay connected and learn more about the Local Food Switchboard:

• Email: operator@localfoodswitchboard.org
• Newsletter: Subscribe on Substack
• Facebook: Follow us on Facebook
• Maine Food Convergence: Learn more about our parent organization