Maine Food for Thought – Partnering with Businesses as a Resource for Workforce Attraction and Retention Efforts

Maine Food for Thought provides public educational food tour experiences that reveal the distinctive stories of Maine's unique food system and the social, economic, and environmental connections.  This year, they have developed opportunities to partner with Maine businesses to serve as a resource for their recruitment and retention efforts.

Recognized by publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, The Boston Globe and Conde Nast Traveler, Maine Food for Thought partners with nationally-acclaimed restaurants that go beyond their bottom line to source local, sustainable food, and with 50+ local thought leaders, nonprofits, research organizations, growers and harvesters representing all stages of food and beverage production and policy.  They serve as a nexus point for the intellectual capital that exists in Maine’s food economy, while also delving into larger macro issues that highlight the adaptability and innovation reflecting Maine’s place-based advantages and challenges, that impact Maine’s food economy. 

50,000 people work in Maine’s farming, food processing, fishing, aquaculture industries and local food industry businesses such as grocery stores and restaurants (Growing Maine’s Food Industry, Growing Maine, October 2015, Harvard Kennedy School). That number is growing and is a significant sector of the Maine economy and one that Maine Food for Thought would like to expose local businesses and their employees and clients to, and showcase how heritage Maine industries like agriculture and commercial fishing have adapted and innovated.  Something that all businesses in the global economy can relate to.

Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce members that partner with Maine Food for Thought receive a discount on tours when booking for clients, recruits and their family members, or as a thank you/team building opportunity for their existing employees.  They also offer private event experiences for groups of 15-60 where attendees enjoy a thoughtfully curated experience that incorporates the educational content on Maine’s food system, paired with a progressive locally sourced dinner from the celebrated Portland restaurant, UNION, at the beautiful Press Hotel.  Locals and visitors alike come away with an enriched understanding of Maine and sense of responsibility related to their food decisions, and how those choices impact the health of regional economies, ecosystems, and communities, and shape a celebrated food destination. 

​Contact Maine Food for Thought Co-Founder, Sarah Hach, at [email protected], to learn more.