Maine farmers urge grocery stores to buy more locally-grown produce

PORTLAND, Maine (WMTW) - The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) is calling on Hannaford Supermarkets to buy more Maine-grown products.

The Association sent a letter to Hannaford last week in response to reporting by WMTW on March 20 that highlighted a shortage of carrots in local grocery stores, including Hannaford.

Weather issues in key growing areas for the supply chain, especially California, were cited as contributing to the shortage. MOFGA is also pointing to rising costs and labor shortages.

“These disruptions reveal the vulnerabilities of a global food market that prioritizes the lowest possible price over long-term reliability. While most of Maine’s food is shipped in from out of state, crops such as those currently in short supply, including carrots and potatoes, not only grow well here, but are grown in large quantities,” wrote Sarah Alexander, Executive Director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association in her letter to Hannaford. “The lack of carrots on store shelves could be seen as an opportunity for Hannaford, and other grocery stores, to establish new relationships with local farmers, or revisit prior contracts that Hannaford ended when it was cheaper to source carrots from outside of Maine.”

MOFGA called on Hannaford to prioritize local contracts and to offer sustainable contracts that reflect the true cost of local production.

Thursday, a spokesperson for Hannaford, Caitlin Cortelyou, told WMTW they have invited MOFGA to meet with them and identify ways to work together and support Maine farmers and producers.

Cortelyou also said that, when in season, Hannaford does source carrots from at least three Maine farms.

“Hannaford is deeply committed to supporting local agriculture, farmers and producers. In 2025, Hannaford sourced more than $40 million worth of produce from over 70 farms and suppliers in Maine. This is one element of a largescale local program, which sources more than 8,000 items from over 1,000 local vendors across the five states in which we operate, including 125 local farmers,” Cortelyou said.