Maine’s first gubernatorial dialogue on hunger and food security issues will be held this evening – Monday, April 30th.  The nonpartisan event is scheduled for 6:30 pm to 8:15 pm at Talbot Auditorium located in Luther Bonney Hall on the Portland campus.

This will  be a moderated question-and-answer dialogue, with each candidate receiving equal time to provide a response.  Questions will be generated by the  sponsoring organizations.   Audience members will also have a chance to ask questions.

All candidates are invited to participate.  At this time, six candidates have agreed to participate.  They are:  Kenneth Capron, Alan Caron, Donna Dion, Mark Dion, Terry Hayes and Betsy Sweet.

Simultaneously, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME.) and Congressman David Young (R-IA.) announced today that they have launched a bipartisan House Food Waste Caucus to explore opportunities to reduce food waste.  A recent US Department of Argiculture Agricultural Research Service Study found that US consumers waste almost one pound of food per person per day.  The House Food Waste Caucus will look at ways to promote food waste reduction across the food supply chain.

The forum is co-hosted by the Cumberland County Food Security Council, Preble Street and the Good Shepherd Food Bank.

“This is a first-of-its kind dialogue,” said USM’s Michael Hillard, a professor Economics and director of the Food Studies Program.  “This is a fresh opportunity with a new governor coming in next year to have this discussion about food insecurity.”