green

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

RI Community Food Bank Kicks Off Holiday Food Drive

Food Bank asks for help with food donations for the 59,000 Rhode Islanders served each month.

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank kicked off its annual Holiday Food Drive to help ensure that no one goes hungry this holiday season. Everyone is invited to participate by hosting a food drive or donating food or funds to support the organization.

“Each year, we ask our friends and neighbors to join together to ensure that no one in Rhode Island goes hungry over the holidays,” said Food Bank CEO Andrew Schiff. “And every time, they respond so generously to our call to help those in need.”

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank serves 59,000 people each month through its network of 160 member agencies. One-third of the clients served are children and one-fifth are seniors.

This year’s list of most-needed items include: peanut butter, whole wheat pasta, tuna, brown rice, canned & dried beans, boxed macaroni & cheese, canned soups & stews, granola bars, canned fruits & vegetables, tomato sauce, breakfast cereals and extra virgin olive oil.

For ways to get involved and donation drop-off locations, visit: www.rifoodbank.org

Revival Brewery celebrates a milestone

Local brewer to mark five years of brewing with an anniversary party

Revival Brewing Company, one of Rhode Island’s premier craft breweries, commemorates five years of brewing in the Ocean State as well as one year of making a home in Cranston this November. Revival has been distributing several of their craft brews for five years to bars and package stores throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, upstate New York, and Japan. For the past year, they’ve been operating the Tasting Room in the basement of Brutopia where the majority of the brewing is done. The Tasting Room acts as a home base for the brand to offer tours, release limited edition 22oz bombers, host special and non-profit events, retail merchandise, and run a “Sour Beer Program”.

“I am extremely proud of my team and excited for the next big things we are working on,” said Brewmaster, Sean Larkin.

To celebrate this milestone, Revival is hosting an anniversary party on Saturday, November 19th at the Tasting Room located at 505 Atwood Avenue in Cranston, RI. Tickets starting at $20 can be purchased here and include samples of Revival’s beers paired with eats from Laughing Gorilla, PVDonuts, and D’Licious Desserts. There will be a special brewer’s toast and keg tapping of the double-secret anniversary ale at 5 PM with Brewmaster Larkin. Guests will also enjoy entertainment from DJ Cat Scratch, cornhole and ping pong tournaments, and all around general merriment.

DEM Awards Rhode Island’s First Farm Energy Grants

Helps three local farms “green” operations and save energy, money

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), in partnership with the Rhode Island Resource Conservation & Development Area Council and the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, today announced $52,245 in grant awards to help three local farms “green” their operations and benefit from the related energy and cost savings. The awards, provided through the new Rhode Island Farm Energy Program, support energy efficiency projects as well as help farmers transition to renewable power.

The following projects have been awarded funding:

Harmony Hills Farm, Glocester – $19,047
Installation of a 10.92 kW solar Photovoltaic system that will be used to power a farm manufacturing facility that produces assorted jams and pickles.

Red Planet Vegetable Farm, Johnston – $14,930
Installation of a 3.78 kW solar Photovoltaic system that will power a five-acre farm, producing organic vegetables.

Pat’s Pastured, East Greenwich – $18,268
Upgrades to the refrigeration/freezer system that is used to store meats produced by the farm.

Funding for the Rhode Island Farm Energy Program is made possible through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. For the initial grant round, awards up to $20,000 were considered. DEM continues to work across many fronts to strengthen Rhode Island’s green economy and assist local farmers in growing their businesses. The state is home to a thriving young farmer network, ranking second nationally in percent of farms owned by beginning farmers. And Rhode Island is one of few states nationally where the number of farms is on the rise. There are more than 1,200 farms in Rhode Island – an increase of 44 percent from 2002. The state’s green industries account for more than 15,000 jobs and contribute $2.5 billion to the economy each year.