Jackson Informs Sun Journal Farming Article

Tori Jackson, University of Maine Extension educator, was cited in a Sun Journal story about Maine having the second-highest rate of farms in the United States.

The number of farms in Maine increased by nearly 1,000 from 2002 (7,196) to 2012 (8,136), according to the article. In 2013, UMaine Extension worked with more than 1,000 people who expressed interest in farming, says Jackson, an associate professor of agriculture and natural resources. “Physically, economically, it’s a tough business to be in. I really attribute it to the huge interest in local foods. Maine and Vermont are at the top of the list in saying ‘I value local food’ and then actually buying it,” she says.