§214-A. Maine food and food products procurement program
In accordance with this section, the commissioner shall implement and promote a Maine food and food products procurement program. State institutions may not be prohibited from procuring food and food products directly from Maine food producers, taking advantage of opportunity buying, coordinating dietary requirements and establishing healthy menus consistently throughout state institutions. The program must measurably improve the quality of food and food products for state institutions with the goal that, no later than 2030, at least 30% of all food and food products procured by state institutions are Maine food or food products.
[PL 2025, c. 521, §4 (NEW).]
1.
Institutional food procurement coordinator.
The commissioner shall designate an employee of the department as an institutional food procurement coordinator, referred to in this section as "the coordinator," to assist in the coordination of food procurement for all state institutions. In order to achieve the procurement goal set forth in this section, the coordinator shall:
A.
Implement and oversee a strategy to strengthen connections between Maine food producers, distributors and state institutions for off-contract purchase agreements pursuant to subsection 2;
[PL 2025, c. 521, §4 (NEW).]
B.
Assist the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of General Services in the solicitation and review of bids from distributors and Maine food producers throughout the procurement process;
[PL 2025, c. 521, §4 (NEW).]
C.
Identify Maine food producers throughout the State who can provide food and food products directly to state institutions for off-contract purchase agreements pursuant to subsection 2;
[PL 2025, c. 521, §4 (NEW).]
D.
Establish and promote guidelines to assist state institutions in procuring Maine food and food products directly from Maine food producers, including, but not limited to, guidelines for opportunity buying and other off-contract purchase agreements pursuant to subsection 2;
[PL 2025, c. 521, §4 (NEW).]
E.
To the extent practicable and within existing resources, convene an annual meeting to explore opportunities for cooperation to increase the purchase of Maine food and food products by state institutions. The coordinator may invite representatives from appropriate state agencies and quasi-governmental entities, Maine food producers and food service professionals, for-profit and nonprofit organizations and other relevant stakeholders outside of State Government to participate in the annual meeting; and
[PL 2025, c. 521, §4 (NEW).]
F.
Perform other duties as determined by the commissioner.
[PL 2025, c. 521, §4 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 521, §4 (RPR).]
2.
Off-contract purchases directly from Maine food producers.
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, state institutions may negotiate directly with Maine food producers and execute agreements for off-contract purchases of food or food products by commodity type, including, but not limited to, vegetables, fruit, eggs, grain or grain products, herbs, seasonings or spices, milk or milk products, meat or meat products, poultry or poultry products, fish or fish products, seafood or seafood products, cider or juice, canned or frozen foods, honey, maple products and condiments. Food or food products purchased under this subsection may be priced up to 15% higher than the same food or food product available under contract.
[PL 2025, c. 521, §4 (RPR).]
3.
Annual meeting.
[PL 2025, c. 521, §4 (RP).]
4.
Advisory committee.
The commissioner may establish an advisory committee to assist the coordinator in advancing strategies for increasing purchases of Maine food and food products by state institutions. The commissioner may invite representatives from appropriate state agencies and quasi-governmental entities, Maine food producers and food service professionals, for-profit and nonprofit organizations and other relevant stakeholders outside of State Government to serve on the advisory committee. To the extent practicable, the advisory committee membership must reflect the diversity of the State, including, but not limited to, diversity in geographic location, background and professional experience.
[PL 2025, c. 521, §4 (RPR).]
5.
Report.
The commissioner shall include a description of the progress toward reaching the procurement goal under this section in the biennial report submitted to the Legislature pursuant to section 2, subsection 5.
[PL 2025, c. 521, §4 (RPR).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2019, c. 677, §7 (NEW). PL 2025, c. 521, §4 (RPR).