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.

RI Department of Environmental Management

For Release: November 7, 2012
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

DEM PRAISES RHODE ISLAND VOTERS FOR APPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL BONDS TO PRESERVE WATER QUALITY, OPEN SPACE, FARMLAND, AND BOOST RECREATION DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE

PROVIDENCE – Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit today praised Rhode Island voters for their commitment to investing in clean water, green space and Narragansett Bay restoration by approving the two environmental bond issues on this year’s statewide ballot.

“By overwhelmingly supporting Questions 5 and 6, Rhode Islanders in every city and town across our beautiful state are helping to promote healthier communities and a healthier economy,” said Director Coit. “Thank you, Rhode Islanders, for saying YES for clean water. YES for productive farmland. YES for wild places. YES for parks where kids can play. YES for healthy rivers and bays. The Rhode Island people have given a resounding YES to investing in, restoring and caring for our environment!”

The two ballot questions were approved by 70 percent of Rhode Island voters and provide much-needed funding for clean water investments in addition to green space preservation and recreation development. Question 5 provides $20 million to the RI Clean Water Finance Agency for wastewater and drinking water system upgrades across the state that will help ensure cleaner beaches and bays, more productive fisheries, and healthier communities. Construction of drinking water infrastructure projects and wastewater treatment plant upgrades will put people to work as well as bring clean water to our homes and preserve our rivers and bays.

Question 6 provides $20 million to DEM for farmland, local recreation and open space grants, parks, state open space acquisition, and restoration of Narragansett Bay and its watershed. Over the years, DEM’s state open space, farmland and recreational development grant programs have resulted in the protection of hundreds of worthwhile projects – places used by residents and tourists alike for outdoor recreation – and contributed to the economic health of the state. Tourism is a $5.2 billion industry, making it the fourth largest economic engine for Rhode Island and a key job generator, which supports more than 41,000 jobs in the state.

According to Director Coit, Rhode Island’s natural resources continue to be powerful drivers for economic development and tourism and sources of great pride for its residents. These natural assets play a big role in the state’s tourist economy by providing opportunities for the public to camp, fish, hunt, hike, and enjoy the great outdoors, and at the same time bring revenue to the local economy. Residents and tourists spend over $378 million annually in Rhode Island on trip and equipment-related expenditures for fishing, hunting, and wildlife-watching activities, according to the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (2006).

Rhode Island’s farms are important small businesses that contribute to the health of our economy, Director Coit pointed out. Agriculture provides numerous benefits to RI’s economy, quality of life, open space, and access to local foods and horticultural products. In fact, as a recent URI study pointed out, the 2,500 green industry businesses in RI sustain 12,300 jobs and contribute $1.7 billion annually to the state’s economy.

Director Coit praised the coalition of conservation organizations and volunteers that worked to inform and educate the public about the importance of the bonds. They include The Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society of RI, Save The Bay, Grow Smart Rhode Island, RI Building Trades, Utility Contractors Association of RI, RI Saltwater Anglers Association, RI Shellfishermen’s Association, RI Land Trust Council and the many local land trusts that supported passage of Questions 5 and 6. “DEM will work vigorously to insure that Rhode Islanders get the best return on this investment in natural resource protection by continuing and strengthening our collaboration with organizations and agencies across the state,” she added.

“By voting YES for the environmental bonds, Rhode Islanders have given us the green light to continue to preserve and protect our state’s unparalleled natural beauty and water resources for generations to come,” Director Coit said.

For Release: November 9, 2012
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

RHODY FRESH TO UNVEIL NEWEST PRODUCT – BUTTERKASE CHEESE – WITH NARRAGANSETT CREAMERY ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13

PROVIDENCE – The Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Agriculture will join representatives from Rhody Fresh Milk and Narragansett Creamery in Providence to unveil a new variety of artisan cheese – Rhody Fresh’s newest product – on Tuesday, November 13. Butterkase, a hand-crafted artisan German-style soft cheese is made in Providence at Providence Specialty Products, using milk from Rhody Fresh dairy farms.

The Rhode Island Dairy Farms Cooperative, which produces Rhody Fresh Milk, was formed in 2004 by a group of five dairy farmers who believed the Rhode Island community was thirsty for locally-produced, fresh milk. Today, Rhode Fresh Milk has grown to include nine dairy farms throughout the state and is sold at retail stores, colleges, and other locations throughout the state. Rhody Fresh Milk is also now used to make the new, delicious varieties of local artisan cheese and butter.

Narragansett Creamery has been handcrafting award-winning fresh and aged cheeses in Providence since 2007, when Louella Hill, a local food advocate, joined forces with Mark Federico, already a cheese maker and owner of Providence Specialty Products, to craft a line of artisan cheeses and yogurt. In just five years their cheeses have garnered a dedicated following in Rhode Island and beyond, and are sought after by professional chefs and home cooks alike.

Participants in Tuesday’s event will include DEM Director Janet Coit; Ann Gooding, communications director for the Providence Department of Planning and Development; Louis Escobar of Escobar Highland Farm in Portsmouth and winner of the 2012 Green Pastures Award, who will speak on behalf of Rhody Fresh; and Mark Federico of Providence Specialty Cheese.

butterkase

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

R.I. DEM News Releases: DEM Praises Voters for Approving Environmental Bonds & Rhody Fresh to Debut Newest Product at Event