Strawberries for sale at a roadside stand. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
BETHEL — On March 6, Oxford County Commissioners – Sawin Millett, Lisa Keim, and Timothy Turner –voted in favor of a county-wide local food and self-governance ordinance for the unorganized territories (UTs) of the county. The ordinance aims to foster greater independence in food production and enhance resilience within the county, with a focus on protecting direct producer-to-consumer transactions.
Oxford is the second of eight counties in Maine with UTs to adopt this ordinance, following Aroostook County, which was the first.
Oxford County’s UTs are home to 802 residents. In this area, the new ordinance will impact UT’s Albany Township, Mason Township, and Milton Township.
In addition to the UTs, the towns of Andover and Bethel implemented their own food sovereignty ordinances in 2021. Bethel’s ordinance is available in the town’s online records.
Greenwood and Woodstock were ahead of the curve, adopting similar ordinances in 2019.
Across Maine, 135 communities and UTs have passed food sovereignty ordinances. However, the Newry Select Board recently voted to reject food sovereignty for their community.
The March 6 Oxford County Commissioner minutes are here: https://irp.cdn-website.com/f21d25f4/files/uploaded/03_06_25.pdf
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