Senator Collins Visits Pemberton’s Gourmet Foods in Gray
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Gray, ME — This afternoon, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Pemberton’s Gourmet Foods to tour the facility and meet with employees and leadership, including the President and Managing Partner, Chef Sam Mangino. Pemberton’s received a forgivable loan through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
“For nearly two decades, Pemberton’s Gourmet Foods in Gray has been committed to producing quality foods and working with local, small businesses in the industry,” said Senator Collins. “Maine’s food and beverage manufacturing companies like Pemberton’s have seen significant growth over the past several years, creating jobs and supporting local economies. I am delighted that the Paycheck Protection Program that I co-authored helped keep this small business strong and its workers employed during the pandemic.”
“It was Senator Susan Collins who supported small Maine businesses like Pemberton’s Gourmet Foods when she co-authored the Paycheck Protection Program. Our small manufacturing company of 12 people received the PPP funds right away assuring our employees that their jobs would be saved. Senator Collins also supported the reimbursement credit for all Maine organic producers. We are very thankful for her support, hard work, and representation in Washington, D.C,” said Sam Mangino, President & Managing Partner of Pemberton’s Gourmet Foods.
Senator Collins co-authored the PPP to help small employers stay afloat and continue to pay their workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its launch in early April, more than 28,000 Maine small businesses and self-employed individuals have received nearly $2.3 billion in forgivable loans, helping to support more than 250,000 jobs throughout the state.
Pemberton’s is a MOFGA-certified organic company that has benefited from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Organic Cost Share Program, which provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program. The Farm Service Agency’s recent change to the program would cause Maine’s organic producers to lose access to more than $122,000 in cost share funds in 2020 alone. Senator Collins has urged USDA to quickly reverse these recent changes to the OCCSP.
Pemberton’s Gourmet Foods is a specialty food maker that has been a family-owned business since it was founded in 2002. They produce their signature sauces, jams, jellies and other original creations at their 10,000 square foot facility in Gray. Pemberton’s also offers small batch co-packing services to food makers and start-ups with original recipes who want to bring their fine foods to market quickly.
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