STATEWIDE —  The Maine Food Strategy, a grassroots planning initiative to support a robust food economy and a thriving natural resource base in Maine, is seeking nominations to its first steering committee by Friday, Sept. 6.

The initiative’s intent is to create a broadly and well-informed set of goals and implementation strategies to guide collaborative efforts and measure progress in Maine. The project’s coordinators are working within the existing network of organizations and business interests supporting Maine produced food, which includes agriculture and fisheries.

Nominations for the Maine Food Strategy Steering Committee will be accepted through 5 p.m., Sept. 6. Initiative coordinators seek individuals who are passionate about strengthening Maine agriculture, fisheries and related businesses; knowledgeable in their field of expertise; and representative of a stakeholder interest (including but not limited to producers, fishermen, processors, distributors, retailers, service agencies, policy advocates, government agencies, resource conservation interests).

Steering Committee members should also be able to serve up to a year and to commit 10 to 16 hours a month to the project.

With support from several foundations, the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine is serving as the administrative entity for the project.

Committee members will be selected by the project’s design committee, a group that has advised project coordinators over the past year.

For a full description of the initiative, selection criteria for the Steering Committee and nomination materials, contact Tanya Swain, project co-director, at 592-4369 or 40tswain@gmail.com, or visit www.mainefoodstrategy.org.