WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced a $639,449 federal grant for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). The Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG), awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), will help fund MOFGA’s project to strengthen consumer and institutional demand for local organic dairy products produced in the Northeast U.S. The project is expected to benefit more than 286 organic family farms and 30 value-added organic processors.

“As Maine’s organic farmers face increasing challenges from changing markets, climate change, and more, we must continue to provide resources and support to help them evolve with the times,” said Senator King. “This new funding will help our farmers expand their businesses with new consumer markets across the northeastern United States. Maine dairy farmers play a critical role in our state – producing high-quality, healthy products and driving our agricultural economy and I know this funding will help them continue to thrive in the domestic dairy market.”

“From rising costs and canceled contracts to dramatic weather and an unstable supply chain, organic dairy farms in Maine and across the Northeast are facing a dire economic situation. As dedicated advocates for our organic farming communities, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association understands what our farmers are going through and are uniquely positioned to address these many challenges,” said Pingree, a longtime organic farmer and member of the House Agriculture Committee. “This significant funding will help MOFGA target solutions that will strengthen the local organic market and support dozens of organic family farms in the region. The Organic Market Development Grant program has proven to be an invaluable resource for our farmers, paving the way for the future of the organic food industry. That’s why Congress must make this program permanent and pass my and Senator King’s Organic Market Development Act.”

The federal grant will help MOFGA, in partnership with the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership (NOFFP), expand the farm-to-institutional market for organic dairy, increase the number of retail outlets promoting organic dairy, and implement targeted consumer marketing efforts to boost demand for products made with Northeast dairy.

“We’re excited that the USDA has awarded this organic marketing grant that will benefit Maine and the entire Northeast region. Maine dairy farms have struggled over the last few years with contract cancellations, the pandemic, rising costs of production, and catastrophic damage from recent winter storms,” said Sarah Alexander, Executive Director of MOFGA. “We know that people in the Northeast want to support our local farms, and this grant will allow us to create more opportunities for local organic dairy farms to get their products to local consumers.”

“The Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership is a regional collaboration that formed in response to Horizon cancelling contracts with 89 farms in the Northeast. This USDA grant to strengthen consumer and institutional demand for local organic dairy products will have a big impact on the entire Northeast region as we work to create new markets and opportunities for Organic Dairy Farms. Organic Dairy is a critical part of the Northeast farming economy, and we hope to build on our success by partnering with more colleges, schools, and retail locations to source local organic milk,” said Olga Moriarty, Executive Director of NOFFP.

Background

In Congress, Pingree has distinguished herself as a strong supporter of organic and sustainable agriculture, authoring the landmark Agriculture Resilience Act, which sets a bold vision of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in U.S. agriculture by 2040. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Pingree is working to support Maine dairy farmers in the upcoming Farm Bill. She recently called on the USDA to support organic dairy farmers in Maine and across the country as they continue to face environmental and economic challenges. In December 2023, the House passed Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which Pingree co-sponsored, to help students thrive at school and support local dairy farmers and local economies. 

This Congress, Pingree, alongside Senator Angus King (I-Maine), helped introduce the Organic Market Development Act to codify and increase support for the highly popular OMDG program, which would help resolve supply chain gaps as demands for organic products continue to rise. 

Earlier this month, Pingree introduced the Organic Dairy Data Collection Act to enhance data collection at USDA to better understand the costs associated with producing organic milk.

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