Douglas Clopp, Maine Farm & Sea Cooperative
The Maine Immigrant Green Collaborative, is led by Farms for Food Equity, Maine Farm & Sea Cooperative, and Wayside Food Programs. It was established to address a specific concern articulated by Maine’s immigrant community in Southern Maine regarding access to healthy, hearty nutritious greens in the emergency food system.
Upon arrival in Maine, many immigrants need to rely on food pantries to meet the food security needs of their families. Many experience what has been deemed “Food Shock”, as the products offered do not culturally align with their diets, and the products available are not consistent with what is required to prepare culturally appropriate meals for their families. Healthy, hearty greens, such as kale and collards, are key components, and often, they are not available.
Maine’s immigrant communities desire high quality products and consistent availability of fresh greens, vegetables, and fruits for their home cooking traditions. Our project has confirmed that with education provided by respected community leaders and immigrant cooks, we can expand hearty greens utilization by showing how Maine-grown staple and underutilized/upcycled produce can be effectively substituted for ingredients used in their countries of origin.
Underutilized crops such as collards and kale are used in staple meal preparation, and other brassica leaves, such as broccoli and cauliflower, if harvested and processed correctly, can be upcycled, and are also effective substitutes. Brussel sprout crowns and sweet potato leaves can also be harvested, upcycled and incorporated into culturally appropriate alternatives.
The Collaborative has expanded its efforts to meet the culturally appropriate food security needs of Maine’s immigrant families and their children by partnering with three school districts, South Portland, Westbrook, and Lewiston, to offer culturally appropriate meals in Southern Maine schools.
After thirty years in nonprofit, cooperative management and organizational development, Doug Clopp founded DRC Consulting with a focus on helping organizations achieve their development, communications, and organizational development goals. His career has been driven by his passion to work for organizations committed to making meaningful social and economic change that aligns with his values of equity, social and economic justice, self-reliance, and diversity. In 2022, Doug joined the Maine Farm and Sea Cooperative and serves as CEO. He remains committed to working collaboratively to create a sustainable, locally controlled food ecosystem in Maine and throughout New England.