How Aroostook County is growing Maine’s sovereign food movement

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 11, 2026

When Stockholm launched Maine’s first sovereign market in 2024, few knew it would lead to a statewide movement. But Maine’s expanded Food Sovereignty Act, which allows small farmers to sell goods directly to consumers without state licenses, resonated with people. The act aimed to increase food self-sufficiency, encourage local farming and stimulate rural economic development.