In a sweeping 2-year investigation, the Associated Press found goods linked to prisoners wind up in the supply chains of everything from Frosted Flakes cereal and Ball Park hot dogs to Gold Medal flour and Coca-Cola.
agriculture
Maine eyes rule change to make it easier to grow food in urban areas
Lawmakers consider greenlighting more low-cost hoop houses to cultivate food.
Betting on broccoli to boost Maine’s farming economy and food availability
Good Shepherd Food Bank has launched an innovative company that makes it the first among 200 food banks nationwide to address hunger by investing in for-profit farming and processing.
Contaminated farm in Unity to become PFAS research site
Songbird Farm is one of a growing number of farms found to be contaminated with so-called forever chemicals from sludge fertilizer spread on fields, once a common, state-sanctioned practice.
Hundreds ride passenger trains to Common Ground Country Fair
The Belfast and Moosehead Lake railroad runs two trains to and from the fair, one from Thorndike and the other from Unity.
UMaine Cooperative Extension Twilight Meetings to conclude Aug. 15
The summerlong series hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and The Greater Franklin Food Council will hold its final meeting of the season at Martin Woods Farm in Starks.
A beautiful day for Maine’s 34th Open Farm Day
Some 100 Maine farms participated Sunday in the 34th Open Farm Day. The occasion for local agricultural education was met by visitors looking to learn about where their food comes from.
Bill to improve farmworkers’ pay, conditions in Maine awaits action by Mills
L.D. 398 would legally define farmworkers as employees, making them eligible for the state minimum wage and protecting them from some overtime requirements.
Auburn council approves new rules for city’s agricultural zone
Eric Cousens, director of planning, permitting and code, said the new ordinance represents a ‘significant compromise between competing interests in Auburn land use planning.’
Local farmers optimistic for harvest despite June rainfall
With warmer weather and good preparation, local produce should still thrive this year local farmers say despite a slow start due to over 5″ of rainfall and long stretches of overcast skies this past month.