Maine schools serve local fish and halal meals to students

The Westbrook School District in Maine provides free, local fish and halal-certified meals to its 2,400 students.

Nutrition Director Mary Emerson coordinates the delivery of fresh catch from the Gulf of Maine to school cafeterias. This initiative connects the local fishing industry directly to student nutrition, ensuring children have access to high-quality protein. The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association manages the Fishermen Feeding Mainers program to support the local economy.

This program began after the pandemic caused groundfish values to drop 73 percent from their five-year average. The association uses private donations and government grants to purchase fish, pay for local processing, and donate the surplus to schools and food pantries. Between October 2020 and March 2025, the association purchased over 1.3 million pounds of fish. The district also focuses on cultural inclusivity by offering certified halal meals.

Khadija Ahmed, founder of Food For All Services, collaborated with the district to establish the Halal School Meals Network. This network helps schools navigate third-party certifications and kitchen safety to prevent cross-contamination. These efforts ensure that Muslim students, who make up a portion of the district's immigrant and refugee population, can eat meals that align with their religious laws. While the program succeeds in providing fresh food, Emerson notes that state reimbursement for local food is limited.

The district faces challenges with rising costs and a federal reimbursement rate of $4.70 per meal. Despite these hurdles, the school nutrition team works with the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association to develop scalable recipes and conduct taste tests to encourage students to try local seafood.