Maine has become the first state in the nation to enact a “food sovereignty” law allowing local communities to exempt locally grown and -sold foods from some state regulations. The Act to Recognize Local Control Regarding Food Systems, signed into law by Gov. Paul LePage in June, permits local ordinances to bypass state rules to allow locally produced food to be sold directly to consumers within municipalities without being licensed or inspected by the state. The act does not apply to food sold or processed outside of its community of origin. Food sovereignty advocates blame costly state and federal laws…