The Harringtons scored a major victory in their effort to pass a food sovereignty ordinance in Clinton on Tuesday when the town select board unanimously approved a temporary ordinance allowing the sale of homemade foods in the town.
[RELATED: Clinton Family Farmers Take Action After State Regulators Shut Down Their Popular Farm Stand…]
“That means for 60 days we can sell everything as we were,” said Chris Harrington in a video announcing the decision.
The Harringtons began their efforts in late June after a state official showed up at their house and ordered them to stop selling dairy products and sourdough bread at their farm stand due to state regulations.
In response to the shutdown, the Harringtons began gathering signatures for a citizens’ initiative to establish a food sovereignty ordinance in their town that would supersede state food sale regulations and allow anyone in the town to sell homemade goods.
[RELATED: Clinton Farmers Gather Signatures Needed to Put Food Sovereignty on Town Meeting Agenda…]
They gathered the 149 signatures required to put the ordinance before the Board of Selectmen at a special meeting on July 14. That meeting did not yield the immediate results the Harringtons had hoped for, and the Board of Selectmen voted to table their proposed ordinance until the next meeting.
On Tuesday, July 28, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to approve a temporary version of the ordinance that will last for 60 days.
While the temporary ordinance is in effect, the Harringtons said, the town’s attorney will evaluate their proposed ordinance. It requires his approval before it can appear on the November ballot for Clinton residents to vote on it.
The Harringtons hope that the Selectmen will vote to extend the temporary ordinance until the permanent decision comes before the people in November, assuming it is approved by the attorney.
Since their farm stand was shut down by the state, the Harringtons have hosted charity bake sales every Saturday at their farm stand. Charity bake sales are not subject to the same state regulations as private sales, and the Harringtons were able to sell their sourdough bread to benefit a variety of local charities.
Despite the temporary ordinance, the Harringtons hosted one final charity sale on Saturday, with proceeds going to purchase school supplies, which they will distribute to local families in need.
“Even though we are legally able to sell everything this Saturday, we wanted to do something special,” said Chris.
“In celebration, we are going to do one more community benefit fundraiser. All the sales this Saturday for everything are going to go toward a bunch of school supplies. We’re going to get a bunch of school supplies and give them out to those in our community who need them for the upcoming school year,” said Karen Harrington.
In their video celebrating the temporary ordinance, the Harringtons called out the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Inspection Program Manager Ben Metcalf, who showed up at their home to shut down their farm stand.
“If you’re watching, Ben Metcalf, we’re legal now,” said Karen.
“You can come by and purchase some stuff, but don’t come showing your badge anymore,” Chris added.
