The Maine Food Strategy, a grassroots planning initiative to support a robust food economy and a thriving natural resource base in Maine, seeks nominations to its first steering committee by 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6.

The initiative’s intent is to create a broadly and well-informed set of goals and implementation strategies to guide collaborative efforts and measure progress in Maine. The project’s coordinators are working within the existing network of organizations and business interests supporting Maine produced food, which includes agriculture and fisheries.

Initiative coordinators seek individuals who are passionate about strengthening Maine agriculture, fisheries and related businesses; knowledgeable in their field of expertise; and representative of a stakeholder interest (including but not limited to producers, fishermen, processors, distributors, retailers, service agencies, policy advocates, government agencies, resource conservation interests). Steering Committee members should also be able to serve up to a year and to commit 10-16 hours per month to the project.

Committee members will be selected by the project’s Design Committee, a group that has advised project coordinators over the past year.

For more information, call Tanya Swain, project co-director, at 592-4369, email 40tswain@gmail.com or visit mainefoodstrategy.org.