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News Bites: RI DEM Grant Opportunities / Coggeshall Farm Museum Crowdfunding Campaign / Stock Culinary Goods & Garrison Confections / Newport Restaurant Group to Open Avvio

by David Dadekian January 27, 2016
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 Promotes Growth of Green Economy with Latest Grant Awards

Nearly $400,000 to be invested in small businesses to foster innovation and growth of local food and agriculture

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

As part of its efforts to expand the green economy in Rhode Island and support working families, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced today the availability of $380,000 in grant funding to local small businesses under the Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) and Farm Viability programs. The grants are designed to increase the competitiveness of Rhode Island products in the marketplace and help local farmers and food partners grow their businesses.

“Rhode Islanders take great pride in their agricultural heritage and diverse food cultures,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. “It is part of what makes our state such a special place to live, visit, and raise a family.  And increasingly, local food and agriculture are hotbeds for innovation and entrepreneurship – spurred on by a growing awareness of the benefits of eating fresh, locally grown food and being connected to a local farmer, nursery, or fisherman. We’re proud to invest in the continued growth of local food and green industries and to support the many new businesses, working families, and innovative initiatives funded under these programs.”

Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) Grant Program

In partnership with the Rhode Island Food Policy Council, the LASA grant program provides up to $20,000 awards to new and small farmers, producer groups, and non-profits to support the growth and sustainability of Rhode Island’s farming, aquaculture, and seafood industries. Now in its third year, the LASA program funds both program and capital projects.  For capital projects, priority is given to initiatives that (1) directly benefit new or small agriculture producers; (2) foster new collaborations or share new information among Rhode Island food-system partners; or (3) support new products or new sales channels with clearly defined markets.

“Adequate nutritious food is essential to human wellbeing and the bedrock of economic development,” said Kenneth Payne, Chair of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council. “LASA is a building block in strengthening Rhode Island’s agriculture and seafood sectors. Let’s all eat well and enjoy Rhode Island’s best.”

LASA is a public-private partnership funded through the state with generous support from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, the Henry P. Kendall Foundation, and the Rhode Island Foundation.  A total of $230,000 is available for the 2016 grant round.

For grant guidelines and to apply, visit dem.ri.gov.  Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on February 16. Applications may also be mailed or hand-delivered to DEM Division of Agriculture, Room 370, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 by 4 p.m.on February 16; however, applying online is strongly encouraged.  Awards will be announced as part of the Rhode Island Agriculture Day held each spring.  Non-profit organizations are eligible for program funds only.

Farm Viability Grant Program

The Farm Viability Grant Program, made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, supports efforts to increase specialty crop production and grow the marketplace for these crops in Rhode Island.  USDA defines specialty crops as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, and nursery crops, including floriculture and turf grass.

The grants – open to individual farmers or agricultural or educational groups – fund projects up to two years in duration that support the continued vitality of local agriculture.  Funded areas include, but are not limited to, research, marketing, food safety and security, plant health, “buy local” initiatives, and development of cooperatives.  For a complete list of funded areas visit www.dem.ri.gov.

Fund projects will support the broad competitiveness of locally-grown specialty crops in Rhode Island.  Initiatives that benefit a sole commercial product or provide a profit to a single individual or group will not be considered.  Single entities are encouraged to participate as project partners.  For this round, $150,000 is available in grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. To date, DEM has awarded more than $2 million in farm viability grants to support the competitiveness of locally-grown specialty crops.

For more information, visit www.rigrown.ri.gov.  Applications accompanied by a W9 form should be mailed to DEM Division of Agriculture, Room 370, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 and postmarked no later than March 31, 2016.

In addition to these grant programs, DEM works across many fronts to accelerate growth of the local food economy, which supports 60,000 jobs in Rhode Island.  The department continues to make investments in critical infrastructure as well as provide farm incubation space to new farmers through its Urban Edge and Snake Den farm properties.  The state’s food system now includes 1,243 farms, an increase of 44 percent from 2002, and nearly 70,000 acres of farmland.  And Rhode Island’s green industries account for more than 15,000 jobs and contribute $2.5 billion to the economy.

The Ocean 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; seven indoor winter markets; and numerous pick-your-own and farm-stand operations.  In partnership with the Seafood Marketing Collaborative, DEM developed the RI Seafood brand to uniquely identify Rhode Island seafood in the marketplace and help local fishermen and distributors grow their businesses.  In 2015, nearly 100 million pounds of seafood arrived at Rhode Island ports, with an ex-vessel value over $75 million.  There are 20 registered users of the RI Seafood brand – which was recently featured as part of Newport Restaurant Week, the Rhode Island Oyster Festival, and the Narragansett Calamari Cook-Off.  For more information, visit www.seafoodri.com.

For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov.  Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely updates.


Coggeshall Announces $50K Campaign to Fuel Education Program

Living history museum to launch crowdfunding campaign to meet $50K matching grant

Mortar and Pestle at Coggeshall Farm Museum

Mortar and Pestle at Coggeshall Farm Museum

Coggeshall Farm Museum may be set in the 18th-century, but it’s launching a 21st-century campaign to raise funds for its growing education program. On Friday, January 29, the nonprofit living history museum in Bristol, RI will kick off a $50,000 crowdfunding campaign to help meet a $50,000 matching grant from philanthropist H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest.

“We’re using these funds to build something pretty amazing — a mobile living history program that puts the story back into history,” says Executive Director Cindy Elder. “Last year, 3,000 students came to Coggeshall for field trips, and we plan to host even more in 2016. Unfortunately, lots of schools find it difficult to afford field trips. Transportation costs alone make it tough. So we’re sending our educators from the farm yard to the school yard to get kids excited about history.”

Coggeshall is using the crowdfunding platform, Indiegogo.com, to generate the matching funds. The theme is “Send Coggeshall to School: $50K in 50 Days.” Donors access Coggeshall’s Indiegogo site at http://igg.me/at/coggeshall and can make gifts of any size. “Perks” for giving range from memberships to hearthcooking classes to naming rights for Coggeshall’s next newborn farm animal. Donations made on the museum’s website or by mail also count toward the match.

Coggeshall honors the lives of 18th-century tenant farm families and brings to life the daily struggles, joys and tasks experienced by working people of this time period. Elder feels it’s critical to bring this perspective into the classroom, because it helps children connect to history through stories that more closely resemble their own.

“We all remember the names of the powerful people who filled our history books,” she says. “But what about the everyday people who built this country from the ground up? The tenant farmers we represent didn’t own their land. They rented. And they had no voting rights. Through their own sweat and determination, they helped to build the American dream. That’s something today’s kids can understand.”

Coggeshall’s education program sheds light on an era when the United States was brand new, just after the American Revolution. The museum’s educators explore issues such as farming, traditional hand skills, politics, class, gender roles, the slave trade, the role of government, voting rights and other issues affecting working people of the time.

“We’re not paying lip service to history at Coggeshall,” says Elder. “We speak from experience, because we are operating a 48-acre farm using 18th-century methods every day of the year. We can share the things we’ve learned by caring for animals, raising crops, cooking over a hearth or mucking the barn when it’s 10 degrees out. History is not just dates and names. It’s the story of where we came from and how we got here. For us, history isn’t forgotten. It’s alive and well and living at Coggeshall Farm Museum.”

The “Send Coggeshall to School Campaign” will fund:

  • Development of a class-based living history curriculum, in collaboration with a team of K-12 educators and the Rhode Island Historical Society.
  • A prototype living history app for the classroom, developed in partnership with MuseumTrek.
  • Educational materials to assist teachers with pre- and post-visit lesson planning.
  • Pilot presentations at no cost to 20 schools in the next 12 months to test the program.

In the past 12 months, Coggeshall has received several grants to help it preserve this 1790s salt marsh farm and build its educational program, including:

  • $2,500 from Roger Williams University and $500 from BankNewport to fund field trips for Bristol students.
  • $32,000 from The Champlin Foundations for improvements that will enable Coggeshall to offer short-time residencies to scholars and craftspeople.
  • $25,000 from the Carter Family Trust and $1,000 from the Town of Bristol to hire and retain high-quality educators.
  • $3,260 from the 1772 Foundation and $1,000 from the State of Rhode Island for historic restoration.
  • $2,500 from Access for All Abilities to improve wheelchair accessibility to the site.

Coggeshall Farm Museum is located at 1 Colt Drive in Bristol, RI, off Poppasquash Road. The museum is open weekends from December 15 through April 15; Tuesday through Sunda during the week of February 15 for school vacation; and by appointment for groups or scholarly visits. For more information, visit www.coggeshallfarm.org, call 401-253-9062 or email Cindy Elder at c.elder@coggeshallfarm.org.


Garrison Confections Returns to Hope Street

Meet chocolatier Drew Shotts and sample Rhode Island’s finest chocolates February 6th at Stock Culinary Goods

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, a new partnership between Garrison Confections and Stock Culinary Goods returns the entire line of the award winning artisan chocolate back to Hope Street in Providence where it all began.

To mark the union, Garrison Confection’s chocolatier Andrew Shotts will visit Stock on Saturday, February 6th from 11 am – 3pm to offer samples and talk about how he makes his nationally renowned chocolates. Campus Fine Wines will also attend to provide samples and suggestions of sherries, ports and bubblies that will pair perfectly with the chocolate.

Since leaving his popular Hope Street retail location eight years ago, Chef Shotts has been producing his chocolate confections from his factory in Central Falls, with most of it being shipped to major cities such as Los Angeles and New York. While limited amounts have been available locally, for the last several years the only way to get the full range was to visit the factory in the days preceding holidays.

“Before Christmas and Valentine’s Day, we would have people lining up to purchase outside of the factory, ringing the bell before we even opened,” says Chef Shotts. “But we wanted a solution that would allow more people to conveniently get their chocolate, while allowing me to focus on my work, which is experimenting with and creating the confections. That’s where Stock came in.”

For the last two years, Stock has rolled out a few select items, but with this new arrangement, the entire line of sixteen varieties of confections, including tablets, chocolate covered fruit and nuts, hot chocolate and boxed sets of bon bons is available at all times.

“This has been a dream of ours since we opened,” says Stock owner Jan Faust Dane. “Many of my customers are elated when they find that we carry it because they know that the gift of Garrison chocolate is always a hit, and now it’s all readily available, seven days a week.”

Each year for Valentine’s Day, Garrison releases its “Legendary Lovers” boxed set collection of boldly flavored and elegantly designed bon bons, with each flavor honoring a famous or infamous couple. This year marks the 15th year of the tradition and the lovers are a roll call of past years’ favorites, including George + Gracie, Scarlett + Rhett and Napoleon + Josephine. Those bon bons and other confections will be available to sample during the instore event.

Stock Culinary Goods, with its Garrison kiosk, is located at 756 Hope Street, Providence near Rochambeau.


Newport Restaurant Group to Welcome ‘Avvio Ristorante’ in former Papa Razzi Location

Newport Restaurant Group’s Award-Winning Portfolio Expands to Include Avvio, an Inspired and Classic-Italian American Eatery in Garden City

Avvio Ristorante exterior rendering

Avvio Ristorante exterior rendering

Newport Restaurant Group, a division of Newport Harbor Corporation, an employee-owned hospitality company, is pleased to announce Avvio, a new restaurant in the former Papa Razzi space in Garden City, Cranston. Avvio will join the Newport Restaurant Group collection as the ninth location in Rhode Island and will embody the essence of everyday Italian dining; a place where friends and family gather, share laughs and celebrate milestones. Papa Razzi will be closed for business beginning on Sunday, January 31st and Avvio will open as a classic Italian eatery in spring 2016.

“When Newport Harbor Corporation purchased seven Papa Razzi restaurants in 2012, it gave us the opportunity to grow our footprint into Massachusetts,” said Paul O’Reilly, CEO and President of Newport Harbor Corporation. “The Cranston location has been successful, but with the growth and expansion of Garden City, we saw an opportunity to refresh the space and enhance its offerings to align with Newport Restaurant Group’s culinary philosophy. These changes will allow us to add Avvio to the Newport Restaurant Group portfolio and to provide guests in the West Bay and statewide the experience they have come to expect from our restaurants and with a similar price point to Papa Razzi.”

Chef Greg Coccio, former Executive Chef at Papa Razzi will remain in this role at Avvio. His efforts will be complemented by Chef Kevin DiLibero, Director of Culinary Arts. Both have been cooking within Newport Restaurant Group for many years and share a passion for and heritage of Italian cooking.

As always, the Newport Restaurant Group’s focus on simple ingredients will be on display, sourced locally and directly from Italy. Prepared with distinct, yet traditional cooking techniques, Avvio’s menu will feature inspired Italian classic dishes along with Neapolitan pizzas and a wood-fired grill.

The culinary team will be augmented by Chef Casey Riley who serves as Chief Operating Officer and oversees the culinary development of each Newport Restaurant Group property. Chef Riley’s extended familial roots are in Cranston and this opening is especially personal and special as Casey’s appreciation of Italian cooking was first nurtured through the traditions passed on to him via the family table.

During the closure, Papa Razzi gift cards will be accepted at all Papa Razzi locations in Massachusetts, as well as at Newport Restaurant Group properties Waterman Grille and Hemenway’s, in nearby Providence. Visit www.paparazzitrattoria.com or www.avvioristorante.com for additional details.

January 27, 2016 0 comment
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News Bites of New Hires: RI Food Policy Council Work Group Chairs, Julian’s Head Chef & Sous Chef, Red Stripe Executive Chef

by David Dadekian August 31, 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.

RHODE ISLAND FOOD POLICY COUNCIL ANNOUNCES NEW CHAIRS

Rhode Island Food Policy Council

The Rhode Island Food Policy Council is thrilled to announce the confirmation of new Work Group Chairs for the Council’s major focus areas: access, economy, environment, health, and production. This group brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from all facets of the food system, and will play an integral role in the development and implementation of Council goals.

Access: Georgina Sarpong is the Farmers Market Program Manager for Farm Fresh Rhode Island. She has experience in food access advocacy and is also an experienced chef. We are fortunate to have her expertise and commitment to improving healthy food access throughout Rhode Island.

Economy: Jeffrey Powell is the Food Service Director at Chariho Regional School District. He has worked in nearly all aspects of the food business, including experience as a chef, restaurant owner, contract dining manager, and in food brokerage and distribution. He recently launched the Ocean State Smoked Fish Company operating out of Rhode Island’s first culinary incubator, Hope & Main in Warren, RI. We are grateful to have Jeffrey’s background and experience in the food economic sector.

Environment: Antonia Bryson practiced law for 30 years, specializing in environmental and land use law. Her vast experience in this field includes having served as a Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Chair of the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board, and Chief of the Environmental Division of the New York City Law Department. She founded the Urban Environmental Law Center, working as an advocate for community groups and nonprofits. Antonia’s experience in the environmental field is an incredible resource, and we are excited to have her join the team.

Health: Annajane Yolken is the Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation Manager at Thundermist Health Center. Her interest is at the intersection of food and health utilizing an equity lens. She has experience from Miriam Hospital and the Rhode Island Public Health Institute. Annajane brings a deep understanding of the ties between food and health, and we are happy she will be sharing her insight with us.

Production: Jennifer Bristol serves as Executive Director of Mount Hope Farm, and the Program Management and Operations Director for The Institute for Mindful Leadership. She brings years of experience in the nonprofit world, including, most recently, senior leadership for The Nature Conservancy. Her unique background in both nonprofit leadership and executive management of a local farm are an asset, and we are pleased to have her working with us.

“The Council’s Work Groups are where the rubber of food systems work meets the road of Rhode Island reality,” said Kenneth Payne, Chair of the RIFPC. “These outstanding work group chairs will give us traction.”

We are excited to welcome this incoming group and look forward to working together toward making the Rhode Island food system a leader in the nation.


Julian’s names new Head Chef

as well as new Sous Chef and launches new Dinner Menu

Left: Ryan Poutre, Head Chef / Right: Derek Wood, Sous Chef

Left: Ryan Poutre, Head Chef / Right: Derek Wood, Sous Chef

This week Ryan Poutre was named the Head Chef of Julian’s Restaurant. Ryan, a Providence native, graduated from Johnson and Wales in 2011. After school he began to cut his teeth in Providence at various restaurants, gaining the prestigious position of Lead Line Cook at Waterman Grille and later moving on to Siena where he became Sous Chef.

Three months ago Ryan joined our team, looking to expand his horizons. His work ethic and passion for food quickly gained him the position of Sous Chef and with in a short time Head Chef. Once promoted, Ryan urged for Lead Line Cook Derek Wood to be promoted to Sous Chef.

Derek Wood has been with Julian’s for two years. He started as a young padawan with limited food experience and we have had the honor of watching him devour food knowledge and honing his skills.

Ryan & Derek have become fast friends and with the support of their kitchen team have released a new dinner menu unveiling dishes like:

Miso Duck with Avocado-Wasabi Puree, Sushi Rice, Smoked Duck, Charred Scallion Salad, Tamari Caramel

Seared Scallops with Heirloom Bean Salad, Cremem Fraiche, Tomato Jam, Bitter Greens

BBQ Beets with Gingered Potato Salad, Preserved Mustard Greens, North Carolina BBQ Sauce, & Crispy Carrots

Sugar Cured Rib-Eye with Sweet Corn Pudding, Fingerling Potatoes, Charred Tomato, & Arugula Pesto

Squash Risotto with Braised Calabaza Squash, Pepitas, Local Mushrooms, Coconut Milk

Stay tuned for new news in the very near future like: Julian’s Omnibus at Kennedy Plaza, Pizza J opening, H, Julian’s & Allagash Beer Dinner at the Steel Yard with FIRE.


JEREMY EWING-CHOW NAMED EXECUTIVE CHEF OF RED STRIPE RESTAURANTS

Jeremy Ewing-Chow

Jeremy Ewing-Chow

Encore Hospitality Group, which owns and operates the Mill’s Tavern and Red Stripe restaurants, announces that Jeremy Ewing-Chow has been promoted to executive chef of the two Red Stripe locations in Providence and East Greenwich.

Mr. Ewing-Chow, who has over 20 years of experience in the culinary industry, joined Red Stripe as a chef at the East Greenwich location last fall. In his capacity as executive chef, he is responsible for the supervision and coordination of all culinary activities at both Red Stripe restaurants, including management and training of kitchen staff, planning and producing menus, selecting and developing recipes, pricing and cost accounting, and ensuring food quality and consistency.

Ewing-Chow traces his passion for culinary arts to his Chino-Guyanese roots, where family meals were a blend of cross-cultural foods and flavors. This diversity, coupled with a love of food and a yearning to travel, influenced his decision to become a chef, and continues to inspire his cooking techniques and recipe development. “To understand a cuisine, I try to understand its culture. There is no better teacher than travel,” he says.

A 1998 graduate of Johnson and Wales University, Ewing-Chow was previously employed at the Gatehouse Restaurant (now the Waterman Grille) in Providence and at the Cheeky Monkey Café in Newport, where he was chef de cuisine for seven years. Prior to his employment with Red Stripe, he worked as chef de cuisine/executive chef at Russell Morin Fine Catering for seven years.

Of his new role, Ewing-Chow says, “I look forward to working together with the talented staff of Red Stripe restaurants. Our team shares a commitment to quality, consistency, excellence and exceeding our guests’ expectations.”

“Between the expanded Providence Red Stripe and our second location in East Greenwich, we are welcoming over 4,000 guests into our restaurants each week for brunch, lunch and dinner,” states Paul Conforti, managing partner of Encore Hospitality Group. “Red Stripe has been serving refined comfort food at an affordable price point for over 10 years. With his extensive training and global culinary view, we are confident Jeremy will keep our food innovative and exciting while also maintaining the consistent quality our guests rely on. We’re pleased to have him on the Encore team.”

Ewing-Chow resides in East Greenwich.

August 31, 2015 0 comment
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2015 Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) Grant Recipients Announced

by David Dadekian May 29, 2015
written by David Dadekian

2015 Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) Grant Recipients Announced

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Rhode Island Food Policy Council (RIFPC) announce the 2015 recipients of the Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) Grants Program. A total of $210,000 is being awarded this year to 15 recipients, including $20,000 to be used by DEM and the RI Seafood Marketing Collaborative for a statewide local seafood promotion campaign.

“Rhode Islanders are eager to grow, eat and promote local food,” said DEM Director Janet Coit, who recognized the award recipients at the annual Rhode Island Agriculture Day celebration, held today at the State House. “This initiative is one of many efforts taken by DEM to enhance our state’s food economy and the economic competitiveness of Rhode Island-grown agricultural products and local seafood.”

“The LASA grant program is an important step forward in Rhode Island toward building a vibrant local food economy in relation to farming and fishing. It involves a unique and forward-thinking partnership between DEM, the RIFPC and other important non-profits that are committed to building a local, sustainable food system in Rhode Island,” said Ken Ayars, chief of the Division of Agriculture, who served as chair of the LASA Grants Advisory Committee.

The Local Agriculture and Seafood Act of 2012 established a grants program within DEM’s Division of Agriculture to support the growth and marketing of local food and seafood in the state. The LASA Grants Program was made possible by a unique and unprecedented public-private partnership with $100,000 in funding from the State of Rhode Island and $110,000 in funds from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, the Henry P. Kendall Foundation and the Rhode Island Foundation. DEM coordinated with the RIFPC to administer the LASA Grants Program.

Rhode Island Food Policy Council

“Big changes are often accomplished by smaller incremental changes sustained over time. That’s the promise the LASA small grants program holds: funding that is incremental, manageable and can be productively absorbed into a growing local food sector. The LASA grants program is a multifaceted partnership, and the RI Food Policy Council is thrilled to be a part of this unique and much needed public-private partnership. Our congratulations go to the grantees and the applicants: it is their work on the ground and on the water that is moving Rhode Island in the right direction,” said Kenneth Payne, Chair, RIFPC.

“It is a privilege to partner with the many talented food, agriculture and seafood leaders across public and private sectors in Rhode Island. Together we are creating the foundation for a more resilient food system and local economy,” said Courtney Bourns, senior program officer at the Henry P. Kendall Foundation.

President and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation Neil Steinberg said, “This program provides invaluable seed capital for local businesses. We’re very pleased to join with the state and other foundations to strengthen Rhode Island’s food system and economy.”

“The LASA grants illuminate the entrepreneurial spirit and economic opportunity in Rhode Island’s agricultural and seafood industries,” said Elizabeth Lynn, Executive Director, van Beuren Charitable Foundation.

The LASA Grants Program Advisory Committee, established to advise and assist DEM in matters related to the LASA Grants Program, received, reviewed and scored 73 applications totaling $1,025,993 in requested funds for this second year of the grants program.

The 2015 grant recipients are as follows:

$20,000 for the DEM and RI Seafood Marketing Collaborative’s statewide seafood branding and marketing campaign;

$17,165 to the African Alliance of Rhode Island in Providence to support the efforts of immigrant and refugee farmers to acquire more growing space, increase crop production to meet growing demand for ethnic specialty crops, and improve marketing expertise and consumer education;

$13,000 to Big Train Farm in Cranston to increase community-supported agriculture (CSA) membership among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in Rhode Island through targeted outreach and collaboration with community organizations and the purchase of a larger-capacity market vehicle;

$6,973 to Blue Skys Farm in Cranston to build a professional drying room that will increase production of dried crops (including culinary, medical/tea herbs, flowers and hot peppers) and reduce drying times, creating new sales channels and increasing wholesale demand;

$13,406 to Brian Pinsky, Matt Behan, Jim Arnoux, Jules Opton-Himmel, and Dr. Michael Rice in Charlestown to study seasonal and tidal variation in food levels and observe the growth and condition index of oysters being cultivated by six oyster farmers in Ninigret Pond;

$7,600 to the City of Providence’s Healthy Communities Office to research and develop a Farmer’s Guide to detail regulatory, zoning, and permitting requirements related to on-site farm sales in Providence and develop marketing and outreach materials for a new urban farm stand in Providence;

$16,432 to Eating with the Ecosystem in Warren to work with the Rhode Island Community Food Bank to get local Rhode Island seafood into Rhode Island’s food pantry distribution system through an experimental pilot project focused on distribution and education around low-value seafood;

$9,464 to Elizabeth McDonnell and Michael de Cruz in Providence to build the infrastructure for small-scale, artisan sea salt production in Rhode Island, focusing on the unique and uniquely varied waters of the Narragansett Bay;

$15,442 to Indie Growers in Bristol to build a solar heating system to provide radiant heat to the floor of an existing 12′ x 30′ high tunnel, enabling production of micro-greens and other unique specialty crops during winter months;

$18,000 to the Northern RI Area Health Education Center in Woonsocket to support the Rhode Island Hospital Local Foods Challenge, a program to galvanize three Rhode Island hospitals to support the state’s food producers and fishermen through increased institutional purchasing;

$10,700 to the Rhode Island Shellfishermen’s Association to produce an educational video on how to become a commercial shellfisherman in Rhode Island and create an apprenticeship program to match Rhode Islanders with professional shellfishermen, with the goal of engaging youth and young people in the shellfishing sector;

$20,000 to the South County Food Co-op in South Kingstown for the South County Farm to Market Initiative, expanding farmer access to the Co-op’s certified commercial kitchen to prepare foods for wholesale sales, and enabling local farmers to serve more CSA customers through the Co-op;

$13,728 to the Local Catch in Charlestown to establish a fish-smoking operation specifically utilizing RI-landed seafood, with an emphasis on increasing sales of underutilized species which are landed in high volume at the Point Judith port but have had weak consumer demand;

$8,090 to Thundermist Health Center in South Kingstown to institute SNAP and credit card access, as well as SNAP and WIC incentives at a minimum of three farmers’ markets in Washington County;

$20,000 to Tilted Barn Brewery in Exeter to make improvements to the barn brewery, expand hop production, and host a workshop during the hop harvest to provide information to other farmers in RI who are interested in growing crops to support the expanding craft beer industry, or plan to start their own farm brewery; and

$20,000 to Wild Harmony Farm in Exeter to purchase an insulated trailer with freezer compressor and generator to enable the transportation of frozen meat from certified butchers back to farms, as well as the transport of whole animal carcasses from the slaughterhouse directly to local restaurants utilizing whole animals.

May 29, 2015 0 comment
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RI Food Policy Council Media Release: Rhode Island Receives $437,000 through USDA’s Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program

by David Dadekian April 10, 2015
written by David Dadekian
Rhode Island Food Policy Council

Rhode Island Food Policy Council

Rhode Island Receives $437,000 through USDA’s Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program

The Rhode Island Food Policy Council (RIFPC) is pleased to announce that federal Farm Bill funds have been secured for Rhode Island through a multi-pronged collaboration to support increased access to fruits and vegetables for the food insecure of Rhode Island, while also benefitting small and mid-sized farmers in the region. Last week, Rhode Island celebrated USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack’s announcement of $31.5 million granted through the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Program (FINI). Rhode Island received two grants through this funding stream, an impressive accomplishment for the smallest state in the nation.

The Rhode Island Public Health Institute received $100,000 to extend the reach of its “Rhody Food on the Move” initiative. Farm Fresh Rhode Island received $337,000 (over three years) to double the amount of nutrition incentives distributed at farmers markets across the state. Farm Fresh is a subgrantee of the national nonprofit Wholesome Wave, who received a $3.77 million FINI grant. Funds from this grant, in both projects, incentivize the spending of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as “food stamps”) on fresh fruit and vegetables.

“These grant awards are the result of a truly collaborative effort that brought together leaders in public health, food systems, and government. The FINI grants provide a double benefit for Rhode Island: the most food insecure residents in the State have increased purchasing power to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, and local and regional producers, processors, and distributors directly benefit from the increased sales,” says Kenneth Payne, Chair of the RI Food Policy Council.

Since 2004, Farm Fresh Rhode Island has been committed to building a local food system that values the health, environment, and quality of life for Rhode Island farmers and eaters. They have offered nutrition incentives named “Bonus Bucks” to SNAP recipients at farmers markets since 2009. SNAP redemption at farmers markets has subsequently grown from $500 in 2007 to over $80,000 in 2014. The grant issued to Farm Fresh will enable further expansion of Bonus Bucks incentives for SNAP shoppers through partnership with independently-managed markets across Rhode Island. Markets that offer Bonus Bucks will expand in number from 13 in 2014 to 25 in 2015.

“Bonus Bucks are a win-win for Rhode Island,” says Sheri Griffin, Co-Executive Director of Farm Fresh Rhode Island. “They ensure that federal food benefit dollars support our state’s agricultural economy, while enabling our neighbors affected by poverty and food insecurity to share in the local bounty.”

Farm Fresh received this award as a subgrantee on a larger $3.77 million grant, which nonprofit, Wholesome Wave, obtained from the USDA to support their national network of nutrition incentive partners. Farm Fresh is one of 32 community-based organizations that will join Wholesome Wave in this Large-Scale FINI Project.

The Rhode Island Public Health Institute (RIPHI), a 501c3 non-profit housed at Brown University’s School of Public Health, will use its FINI grant to expand their ‘Rhody Food on the Move’ mobile markets and introduce financial incentives into their project. ‘Rhody Food on the Move’ builds upon the experience and success of the ‘Fresh To You’ (FTY) mobile market program, which was the focus of three, recent Brown University research studies conducted by Kim Gans, PhD, MPH, LDN and Gemma Gorham, MPH. The long-term goal of the grant is to increase SNAP recipients’ purchase and consumption of fruits and vegetables by ‘making the healthy choice easy and affordable’.

“One of the big challenges with helping people to improve their diets is the lack of access to fresh produce in their neighborhoods,’’ said Dr. Amy Nunn, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute. “And even when it is accessible geographically, the costs can be price prohibitive.”

One of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council’s four central goals is that every Rhode Island resident will have access to safe, fresh, affordable, nutritious and culturally appropriate food, regardless of income or race. The Bonus Bucks expansion and Rhody Food on the Move projects are two prime examples of statewide efforts to pursue this vision.

April 10, 2015 0 comment
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