Eat Drink RI
The best local food and beverage information in Rhode Island
  • Interviews
    • The Show
    • Subscribe as a Podcast
    • RI Small Business LIVE Forum on Facebook
  • Upcoming Events
  • Food & Beverage Jobs
    • Post A Job
    • Job Dashboard
  • Latest News
  • COVID Support
    • Restaurants with Online Ordering and Take Out
    • Shop Local Food & Drink Businesses Online
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 1 of 4
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 2 of 4
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 3 of 4
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 4 of 4
    • Resource Links for Small Businesses During COVID-19 Crisis
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
    • Shopping
    • About
    • Contact
Tag:

Art Handy

loading...

farmsnews

News Bites: May 28, 2015 is Rhode Island Agriculture Day at the State House , The Savory Affair Welcomes Leah DeCesare as Business Development Director

by David Dadekian May 27, 2015
written by David Dadekian

Current news releases—Eat Drink RI is not the source for these items—please follow any links for more information.

DEM, Farmers and Aquaculturists to Celebrate Rhode Island Agriculture Day in State House Festivities on Thursday, May 28

Large Selection of Local Foods Available for Sampling

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

To recognize the importance of the state’s $2.5 billion agriculture and green industries, the Department of Environmental Management will host Rhode Island Agriculture Day at the State House on Thursday, May 28.

DEM will announce the award of 15 Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) grants of up to $20,000 to assist small or beginning farmers and local seafood businesses promote and market their locally grown or harvested products grown in Rhode Island. The program is designed to increase the economic competitiveness of Rhode Island-grown agricultural products and local seafood. “This new initiative is one of many efforts taken by DEM to support local agriculture and our state’s food economy,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. “Rhode Islanders are eager to grow, eat and promote local food, and this grant program supports the growth of our local food sector to meet the growing demand of consumers.”

This year’s RI Agriculture Day program will include remarks by First Gentleman Andy Moffit as well as Michel Nischan, executive director of the Wholesome Wave Foundation, who will focus on the importance of a sustainable, locally-based food economy. Nischan is speaking to the Interagency Food and Nutrition Policy Advisory Council on the morning of Agriculture Day as well as the City of Providence Healthy Communities Advisory Council the following morning. There are numerous efforts within Rhode Island and state government to focus on an enhanced local food economy including the LASA grant program, which is an innovative partnership between DEM and the RI Food Policy Council, the Rhode Island Foundation, van Beuren Charitable Foundation and the Henry P. Kendall Foundation.

In addition, Senator Susan Sosnowski and Representative Art Handy will talk about the economic value of agriculture, seafood and the local food economy in Rhode Island, and Tess Brown-Lavoie of the RI Young Farmers’ Network will talk about efforts among young farmers in RI to improve the local food economy.

Rhode Island Agriculture Day will showcase Rhode Island’s agriculture industry and all that it brings to the state. Beyond fresh and local produce, meat, nursery stock, sod and Rhode Island’s own Rhody Fresh milk, agriculture contributes to tourism, open space, landscaping businesses, and a variety of food-related industries. The event will also continue to highlight the statewide “Get Fresh. Buy Local.” campaign and farmers’ markets.

“All of our state’s natural resource-based functions – agriculture, aquaculture and fishing – result directly in jobs and opportunities to promote Rhode Island,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. “Thursday’s Agriculture Day celebration is a great opportunity to focus attention on this vibrant industry and educate Rhode Islanders on the many ways that agriculture impacts the local economy and our quality of life.”

As part of the Rhode Island Agriculture Day festivities, over 40 exhibitors will host displays in the State House Rotunda from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Exhibitors will include farms and local food purveyors, as well as government and non-profit agencies that work with farmers. Coordinated by DEM’s Division of Agriculture, the exhibits will highlight Rhode Island agriculture and the many organizations that collectively participate in its viability.

Large Variety of Locally-Grown Foods Available for Sampling

Several exhibitors will offer food samples, such as stuffed quahogs from Dave’s Marketplace; pizza strips and hermits directly from Wright’s Dairy Farm and Bakery; assorted cheeses from Narragansett Creamery; oysters from Ocean State Aquaculture Association; johnnycakes from the Kenyon’s Grist and Corn Meal Company; and Rhody Fresh milk and cheese from the RI Dairy Farms Cooperative. Also, fresh cider from Jaswell’s Farm in Smithfield; Cabot Cheese made with milk from RI dairy farms; Rich’s Sweet Heat sauce for RI-grown vegetables and meats will be available for sampling.

Rhode Island has 1,243 farms, mostly family run, which occupy 68,000 acres. The state is a national leader in direct-sales to consumers, with approximately 50 seasonal farmers markets in the state’s urban, suburban and rural areas, eight indoor winter markets, and numerous pick-your-own and farm stand operations. According to the 2014 update to URI’s Green Industry Economic Impact Study, which was highlighted at today’s event, the 3,327 green industry businesses in Rhode Island sustain 15,826 jobs and contribute $2.5 billion annually to our state’s economy.

The Agriculture Day speaking program will begin at 2 p.m. in the Governor’s State Room, and the exhibits will be on display until 5 p.m. in the State House Rotunda.


The Savory Affair Welcomes Event Planning Expert and Author Leah DeCesare as Business Development Director

The Savory Affair Business Development Director Leah DeCesare

The Savory Affair Business Development Director Leah DeCesare

The Savory Affair, Rhode Island’s premier event planning and design company, recently welcomed Leah DeCesare as Business Development Director. With years of event planning and public relations experience at a national retailer based in New York City under her belt, East Greenwich resident DeCesare now returns to event design and management with The Savory Affair.

DeCesare has managed weddings and events for large-scale corporate meetings, celebrity appearances, fashion shows, grand opening activities, and customized special events. With a focus on serving her clients, she ran a local parenting support business and founded a nonprofit organization in 2008. With an eye for detail and a love of creative concept development, she most recently initiated and executed a major fundraising campaign and gala to build a medical center in Uganda.

“I am thrilled to be apart of the incredible team at The Savory Affair,” said DeCesare. “There is nothing more rewarding than to work with a client to make their event vision a reality.”

DeCesare is the author of Naked Parenting, manages an active parenting blog, is a contributor to The Huffington Post, and has been published in international journals. Leah received her BS from Syracuse University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a triple major in advertising, marketing, and French. Leah keeps busy with three children. To learn more about DeCesare’s fascinating career and life in her own words, click here!

“We are excited to utilize Leah’s creative direction and arsenal of skills as we continue creating unique and memorable experiences for our clients,” stated Jessica Granatiero, owner of The Savory Affair.

DeCesare’s creativity can be seen first-hand in her most recent Savory Affair blog entry, Outdoor Entertaining Beyond the BBQ. Click here to take a look!

May 27, 2015 0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrRedditStumbleuponWhatsappEmail
farmsnews

R.I. DEM News Release: Governor Chafee, DEM Celebrate RI Agriculture Day at State House

by David Dadekian October 6, 2021
written by David Dadekian
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

For Release: April 25, 2013
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

GOVERNOR CHAFEE, DEM DIRECTOR COIT, RINLA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHANNON BRAWLEY, FARMERS AND LEGISLATORS CELEBRATE RHODE ISLAND AGRICULTURE DAY IN STATE HOUSE FESTIVITIES TODAY

PROVIDENCE – The Department of Environmental Management hosted Rhode Island Agriculture Day at the State House today to recognize the importance of the state’s $170 million agriculture industry.

“Agriculture provides numerous benefits to Rhode Island’s economy, quality of life, open space, and access to local foods and horticultural products,” said Governor Lincoln Chafee. “Today’s celebration is an opportunity to focus public attention on Rhode Island’s agricultural industry and educate our citizens on the many ways that agriculture touches their lives each day.”

This year’s RI Agriculture Day program recognized the 100th anniversary of the RI Fruit Growers Association with the preview of a new documentary film on the state’s apple industry, entitled “Vanishing Orchards.” In addition, the event highlighted a new initiative to promote and market local seafood as well as ongoing programs to maintain the viability of farming in Rhode Island. Farming is an integral part of the state’s economy and provides a valuable contribution to Rhode Island’s open space and quality of life. Beyond fresh and local produce, nursery stock, sod and Rhode Island’s own Rhody Fresh milk, local beef and aquaculture, agriculture contributes to tourism, open space, landscaping businesses, and a variety of food-related industries.

“All of our state’s natural resource-based functions – agriculture, aquaculture and fishing – result directly in jobs and opportunities to promote Rhode Island,” noted DEM Director Janet Coit. “This can be seen across the state, from the expansion of farmers’ markets to the promotion of delicious local produce, meats, and seafood in our outstanding restaurants. Agriculture represents a bright spot in the economy of our beautiful state, thanks to growing consumer interest in products grown and caught locally and the impressive entrepreneurial skills of Rhode Island farmers and fishermen.”

Rhode Island has 1,219 farms, mostly family run, which occupy 61,000 acres. The state has 50 seasonal farmers markets in urban, suburban and rural areas, seven indoor winter markets, and numerous pick-your-own farm stand operations. According to the 2007 USDA Census of Agriculture, Rhode Island was ranked number three in the country for direct marketing sales of fruits and vegetables from farms to consumers, on a per farm basis. Rhode Island also had $6.3 million worth of agriculture sales sold directly to the public, equal to 9.5 percent of all agriculture market sales, which ranked Rhode Island first in the US for percentage of direct market sales. The Economic Impact Study conducted by URI significantly determined that many economic values surpassed USDA figures.

New Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Logo and Website Unveiled

DEM Director Coit noted that the seafood sector is nearing its way to being as successful as the agricultural sector in local marketing and sales. The economic value of just the raw product sales of the RI agriculture and commercial fishing industries combined is $266 million per year, with even greater far-reaching economic benefits when multiplier impacts are factored in (Rhode Island Commercial Fishing and Seafood Industries Report, October 2011).

With the passage of the Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative law in 2011, the state has committed to creating a framework for effective and sustainable marketing for Rhode Island seafood. A new logo that will be used to identify RI grown seafood products was rolled out at today’s Agriculture Day program. In seafood shops and supermarkets throughout the state, consumers will soon be seeing this logo depicting locally-harvested fish and shellfish products such as fresh squid, lobsters, fish, oysters and clams. Also, the Seafood Marketing Collaborative has developed a new website where consumers can get up-to-date information about local seafood and product availability. The website address is www.seafoodri.org.

In addition to our mouth-watering seafood, Rhode Island is also well known for the many varieties of delicious, sweet fruit it produces each year at orchards and farms throughout the state. To honor the generations of fruit growers who have dedicated their efforts to producing bounty after bounty of apples, peaches, plums, berries, and other succulent fruits for Rhode Islanders to enjoy, the Agriculture Day program recognized and honored the RI Fruit Growers Association as it celebrates its 100th Anniversary this year.

The new documentary film on the state’s apple industry, entitled “Vanishing Orchards,” will preview at 7 p.m. on May 23 at the Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport. Produced by Alex Caserta with funding from DEM, this is positive story about the changes within the fruit growing industry in RI over the past 10 years as the industry has adopted retail marketing techniques such as pick your own and agri-tourism. As a result, the industry has survived and has thrived in RI. Governor Lincoln Chafee was interviewed for this film.

Large Variety of Locally-Grown Foods Available for Sampling

As part of the Rhode Island Agriculture Day festivities, approximately 50 exhibitors hosted displays in the State House Rotunda throughout the day. Exhibitors included farms, local food purveyors, and land trusts, as well as government and non-profit agencies that work with farmers. Coordinated by DEM’s Division of Agriculture, the exhibits highlighted Rhode Island agriculture and the many organizations that collectively participate in its viability.

Several exhibitors offered food samples, such as stuffed quahogs from Dave’s Marketplace; fresh cupcakes and their own cheddar cheese directly from Wright’s Dairy Farm and Bakery; assorted cheeses from Narragansett Creamery; oysters from Matunuck Oyster Farm; johnnycakes from the Kenyon’s Grist and Corn Meal Company; Rhody Fresh milk and Butterkase cheese from the RI Dairy Farms Cooperative; egg sandwiches, Greek yogurt and Del’s liquid lemonade from Little Rhody Foods; and Arruda Dairy’s fresh plain and flavored milk including chocolate and coffee. Also, fresh cider from Jaswell’s Farm in Smithfield; fresh made fudge from Confreda Farms and Greenhouse in Cranston; Cabot Cheese made with milk from RI dairy farms; Rich’s Sweet Heat sauce for RI-grown vegetables and meats; and fresh assorted pies from Gardner Pie Company were available for sampling.

Along with Governor Chafee and Director Coit, participants in the program included Shannon Brawley, executive director of the RI Nursery and Landscape Association and EDC board member; Senator Susan Sosnowski; Representative Art Handy; and Sandie and Gil Barden of Barden Family Orchards in North Scituate.

October 6, 2021 0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrRedditStumbleuponWhatsappEmail

Search:

Recent Posts:

  • News Bites: RI Breweries Christmas & New Year’s Hours / Boat House Operation Blue Santa Toy Drive

    December 21, 2022
  • News Bites: New Sons of Liberty Flavored Whiskies / Anchor & Hope Wins Four Awards / RI Seafood Launches New Site and App / Help Giusto Donate Lasagnas / Neon Marketplace Opens in Providence

    December 7, 2022
  • News Bites: Oberlin’s Chef Sukle Opening New Spot and Announces Move / Rhody Feeding Rhody Awarded USDA Grant / Rory’s Market Launces Fresh Produce Program

    November 14, 2022
  • News Bites: Local Agriculture and Seafood Act Grants Now Open / The Good Trade Makers Market Returns / Branchfood Launches RI Operations / BEATNIC Offering BOGO for Beginning of World Vegan Month

    October 25, 2022

Advertisement:

Blackbird Farm

Advertisement:

Advertise with Eat Drink RI

Advertisement:

Advertisement:

Advertisement:

Advertisement:

Food Trucks:

Facebook
My Tweets

Four Time RI Monthly Best of RI Winner for the Eat Drink RI Festival

Four Time RI Monthly Best of RI Winner for the Eat Drink RI Festival

2019 Rhode Island Inno Blazer Award Winner & Two Time 50 On Fire Winner

2019 Rhode Island Inno Blazer Award Winner & Two Time 50 On Fire Winner

Rhode Island Foundation 2014 Innovation Fellow

Rhode Island Foundation 2014 Innovation Fellow

Instagram

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • Tumblr
  • Youtube
  • Email

Copyright © 2010-2022 Eat Drink RI LLC. All rights reserved.


Back To Top
Eat Drink RI
  • Interviews
    • The Show
    • Subscribe as a Podcast
    • RI Small Business LIVE Forum on Facebook
  • Upcoming Events
  • Food & Beverage Jobs
    • Post A Job
    • Job Dashboard
  • Latest News
  • COVID Support
    • Restaurants with Online Ordering and Take Out
    • Shop Local Food & Drink Businesses Online
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 1 of 4
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 2 of 4
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 3 of 4
    • The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 4 of 4
    • Resource Links for Small Businesses During COVID-19 Crisis
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
    • Shopping
    • About
    • Contact

Terms and Conditions – Privacy Policy