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Eat Drink RI Festival: April 25 – 28, 2018 | All-Local Celebration of Everything Edible returns for a 7th Year

by David Dadekian May 6, 2018
written by David Dadekian

Eat Drink RI Festival logo

The 7th Annual Eat Drink RI Festival is a celebration showcasing the best of the culinary world in Rhode Island. Presenting farmers, chefs, bartenders and food & drink artisans from across the region, this year’s Festival offers a brand new wine tasting experience, the return of Dinner by Dames, the largest food truck event in the area, and culminates with the Grand Tasting, an All-Local Tasting featuring even more culinary & beverage presentations than before. Tickets and more information can be found at eatdrinkri.com/festival.

This year’s festival kicks off with Rhode Island’s first Sommelier Smackdown at the gorgeous, newly renovated Café at Easy Entertaining! This brand new event is co-hosted by Certified Sommeliers Ian Magiros of M.S. Walker and Jonathan Feiler of Rhode Island Distributing. The Smackdown will pit Certified Sommeliers Justin Bothur of Ocean House and Weekapaug Inn, Alan Freudeman of Gracie’s, Ali Innes of bin 312 wine cellar, and Alí Quero of Los Andes against each other in a wine theory quiz, a blind wine tasting, and a food & wine pairing collaboration with a local chef. Guests will vote on the fan favorite pairing and judges will tally the points of all three components of the competition to decide who reigns supreme in RI’s wine world. Tickets include wine tastings, food & wine pairing, and hors d’oeuvres.

One of Rhode Island’s most popular dining series, Dinner by Dames, returns on the Thursday evening of the Festival. This dining experience brings together five of Rhode Island’s most talented chefs—Melissa Denmark of Gracie’s and Ellie’s Bakery, Jordan Goldsmith of Moonrose Farm, Maria Meza of El Rancho Grande, Ashley Vanasse of Easy Entertaining Inc. and Jessica Wood of Fire and Water Restaurant Group—for a multi-course dining event. For the 2018 Eat Drink RI Festival three guest chef Dames are joining the team: Lisa Lofberg of Little Moss, Rebecca Lentrichia of Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel and Caitlyn McGuire of Ellie’s Bakery.

To make the evening that much more special, Jen Davis of The Eddy, along with a group of RI’s top bartenders—Cassie Coutard of Courtland Club and New Harvest Coffee & Spirits, Megan Freitas, Sam Royds of Gracie’s, Elizabeth Sawtelle of Nicks on Broadway, Britt Simons of Persimmon and Kayleigh Speck of The East End—are creating cocktail pairings for each course with spirits very kindly provided by Origin Beverage Co. Dinner by Dames will once again be held at the beautiful Skyline at Waterplace in downtown Providence. In addition, Dinner by Dames coincides with this year’s Paint the Town RED to benefit AIDS Care Ocean State and Eat Drink RI is proud to donate a portion of Dames proceeds to ACOS.

Every year the Truck Stop to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank continues to grow! The event is back at the Food Bank’s huge lot in Providence with twenty-three mobile food vendors and a trio of local beverage greats! This sixth annual Truck Stop showcases even more of the excellence and variety of Rhode Island’s mobile restaurants, features local musicians the Superchief Trio, and also benefits an organization dedicated to ending hunger. Trucks include: Citizen Wing, Friskie Fries, GottaQ Smokehouse BBQ, Noble Knots, Portu-Galo and more.

The Eat Drink RI Festival Grand Tasting features samplings of over sixty locally produced beer, wine & spirits, as well as an abundance of local food artisans in Hall D of the Rhode Island Convention Center. Grand Tasting participants include: American Mussel Harvesters, Jonathan Edwards Winery, Los Andes, Narragansett Creamery, Revival Brewing Company, Seven Stars Bakery, Yacht Club Soda and so many more.

During the Tasting there will be all-new local food & drink presentations on the Frigidaire Professional Presentation Stage sponsored and provided by Wickford Appliance featuring Rhode Island’s top chefs paired with a local producer to wow attendees with some of the best food in the country, all included with admission to the Grand Tasting.

  • Easy Entertaining’s Chef Ashley Vanasse and Narragansett Creamery’s Pattie & Mark Federico
  • Nicks on Broadway’s Chef Derek Wagner and Blackbird Farm’s Ann Marie Bouthillette
  • Tallulah’s Taqueria’s Chef Jake Rojas and American Mussel Harvesters

In addition, a 2nd food & drink presentation area has been added at this year’s Grand Tasting. Get a floor-level, up-close look at the detail work & techniques of these chefs and artisans with this more interactive and intimate show area.

  • Pastaio’s Chef Adam Baffoni on Pasta
  • Ellie’s Bakery’s Chefs Melissa Denmark and Caitlyn McGuire on Decorating Desserts
  • El Rancho Grande’s Joaquin Meza on Cocktails

The key to the Eat Drink RI Festival is that it is dedicated to showcasing Rhode Island food and drink. This Festival, unlike many others, is about local chefs, bartenders, farmers, brewers, distillers, producers and more—the people who have elevated Rhode Island to national renown for its culinary scene. Tickets and more information can be found at eatdrinkri.com/festival.

May 6, 2018 0 comment
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News Bites: RI Honors Food Day, Farm to School Month / Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market / Jamestown FiSH / Coastal Wine Trail

by David Dadekian October 20, 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.

Rhode Island Honors Food Day, Farm to School Month

Farm Fresh RI Farm to School Gardening with Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence

Farm Fresh RI Farm to School Gardening with Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence

The RI Farm to School Project is busy throughout the month of October, supporting special events and distributing resources to engage the state’s schools and institutions in fresh, delicious and nutritious local eating. Governor Gina Raimondo recently proclaimed October to be “RI Farm to School Month.” And the most recent USDA Farm to School Census revealed that Rhode Island schools rank number-one in the nation for district participation in Farm to School programs!

At the same time that obesity and diabetes are occurring in our nation at record rates among children, Farm to School activities empower youth to think critically about the food they eat, to learn about nearby farms and how food is produced, and to taste for themselves that healthy, fresh foods are delicious. Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s Farm to School Project is a critical part of the non-profit’s strategy for fostering a culture of healthy eating in the next generation of consumers. As larger local farms seek secure wholesale markets, school meals represent a viable outlet for Rhode Island farmers. Farm Fresh RI hopes that local food celebrations generate enthusiasm among diners and demand by meal providers so that RI Grown items continue to appear regularly on cafeteria menus.

“Consistent purchases by institutional customers such as Rhode Island’s school food service providers are what our agricultural producers need to assure their investments in expansion,” notes Farm Fresh RI Co-Executive Director Sheri Griffin. “These sustainable purchasing relationships are a win-win for everyone. Our students benefit by enjoying the freshest and most delicious food as our agricultural economy thrives. This kind of activity fosters the development of a secure and sustainable local food system.”

Instagram art contest sponsored by the RI Fruit Growers Association
In celebration of both National and Rhode Island Farm to School Month, as well as Farm Fresh RI’s “Harvest of the Month” initiative featuring apples for October, the RI Farm to School Project hosted an Instagram art contest sponsored by the RI Fruit Growers Association. Rhode Island middle school students (5th – 8th grade) were invited to submit artwork or photography depicting their enthusiasm for Farm to School, Rhode Island agriculture and Rhode Island grown foods. Two fifth-grade students from Reservoir Avenue School in Providence won the contest for their class with colorful drawings of RI Grown fruits and vegetables. Teacher Maureen Rooney’s class will enjoy the first-place prize: apple picking while on a farm fieldtrip Tuesday, October 25, hosted by Steere Orchard in Greenville, RI. The class will also celebrate the second prize, a local foods classroom cooking extravaganza. Students will use RI Grown foods to prepare brunch this Friday, October 21. Menu items include veggie frittatas featuring various vegetables from RI Mushroom Company and multiple RI farms, Baffoni Farms eggs, Schartner Farms sweet potato hash, Steere Orchard apple crisp, and apple pie smoothies using Narragansett Creamery yogurt.

Sodexo Providence, the food service provider at Reservoir Avenue School, will hang the winning artwork in the cafeteria—where all students can view it while enjoying a Great RI Apple Crunch on Food Day, October 24.

The Great RI Apple Crunch, October 24
The second annual Great RI Apple Crunch will be held at Pell Elementary School in Newport, RI, on October 24th—Food Day. To celebrate, the entire school population (including over 850 students, plus faculty and staff!) will gather at 2:00 pm on the school lawn to simultaneously bite into a delicious apple grown locally at Steere Orchard.

The event is coordinated by the school’s food service director, Cindy King of Chartwells, and Farm Fresh RI’s Farm to School team. Chartwells and Farm Fresh RI have worked together in Newport and all East Bay school districts for over 10 years to promote RI Grown foods in school meals and to facilitate food education activities like classroom nutrition lessons, gardening programs and after-school cooking clubs.

This October, Chartwells is participating in Farm Fresh RI’s “Harvest of the Month.” In exchange for printed marketing materials and support with local food celebrations, the district has committed to purchasing RI Grown apples three times during the month!


Farm Fresh RI Wintertime Farmers Market Celebrates 10th Year!

Farm Fresh RI Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market 2016 poster

Farm Fresh RI Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market 2016 poster

The Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market is opening for its 10th season on November 5, 2016. The largest indoor farmers market in New England, it will be open every Saturday through April 29, 2017 from 9am to 1pm — this year including both December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 31 (New Years Eve). That means extra holiday shopping opportunities for consumers and more chances to support local businesses.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the wintertime market, Farm Fresh Rhode Island will be hosting special events, cooking demos, give-aways, and sales throughout the season. Ever growing, the 2016–2017 Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market will be home to a bustling community of shoppers, families, musicians, artists, growers, and artisans gathering over a shared interest in delicious locally grown foods. The market will feature over 80 new and returning vendors selling a huge array of local products, from fresh produce, seafood, poultry, meats, and cheeses to baked goods, prepared foods, herbal remedies, seasonal flowers and wreaths… and so much more! The Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market is located in two spacious hallways at 1005 and 999 Main St., Pawtucket, RI 02860. The R-Line bus literally stops at the market’s front door. Multiple parking lots are provided for convenience, and street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood. Ramp accessibility is located at the 999 Main St entrance and in the building’s center courtyard. For more information: farmfreshri.org.

From Humble Beginnings — 10 Years of Supporting Local Growers
“Let’s just do it. Let’s find a place!” That was how it all started, seemingly simple words that transformed years of dreaming into a realistic way to support RI food producers all year long. Farm Fresh RI Co-Executive Director Sheri Griffin was there, then just starting at the fledgling nonprofit. Griffin along with Farm Fresh RI founders Louella Hill and Noah Fulmer knew that local growers need a consistent marketplace to thrive, even after the New England temperatures start to dip. But asking for a commitment from vendors and pulling together all the logistics were far from a sure thing.

“At first, we weren’t even certain it would fly,” explains Griffin. “As a grower, it’s one thing to need a marketplace. It’s another to be able to dedicate valuable time and resources to test new waters.” In fact, the market may not have gotten off the ground in 2007 without integral support from AS220, a Providence gallery and forum for the arts that donated space and tables for that first wintertime market. But the market was a hit almost immediately — thanks to Hill Orchards, Simmons Farm, Matunuck Oyster Farm, Earth Essence Herbals, Wishing Stone Farm, Jack’s Snacks and Whispering Elms Farm blazing the trail, and Farm Fresh RI rounding out the market with buy-in from other small vendors. So, after that first season, Griffin and team were again in search of a space to house the growing demand.

By the following November, 2008, the market had moved to its current home in the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket, after recommendations by Farm Fresh RI friends and market partners New Harvest Coffee Roasters and Seven Stars Bakery, which had already set up shop in the building. Jumping dramatically from 7 to 51 vendors in just its second year, the market’s success was a boon, and it has continued to thrive in the years since. In Fall 2012, with the market bursting at the seams, Farm Fresh RI expanded the market into two hallways — as it will continue to be this, the 10th year!

“The Wintertime Market has made a real difference to a lot of local growers,” explains Griffin. “Having a stream of income from the other eight months of the year can help make or break small food & agra businesses. And our community is hungry for what they catch, grow and create. Making these connections is what Farm Fresh RI is all about.”

Cash, Credit/Debit, EBT Accepted
The market accepts cash, check, credit/debit, and EBT. For shoppers using SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, Farm Fresh RI provides a 40% bonus! Customers simply swipe their EBT card at any of the market Welcome Tables and receive tokens to spend on groceries at the market. For every $5 swiped on EBT, shoppers get $2 FREE Bonus Bucks to buy fresh fruits and vegetables — and the tokens never expire!


Sunday Brunch Begins at Jamestown FiSH

At Jamestown FiSH, Sunday Brunch is a special event. We have made every effort to elevate its status to an art form. With imaginative twists on traditional dishes and inventive new creations inspired by European cuisine, we strive to give our guests an unprecedented dining experience.

A sampling from the menu includes: Omelette, served with a side of Scotch Whiskey Smoked Salmon or Prosciutto & Atwell’s Gold Cheese; Ceufs en Meurette, a classic Burgundian egg dish comprised of two poached eggs topped with a sauce made with copious amounts of red wine, bacon, shallots and mushrooms, then harmonized with a touch of butter and served on top of toasted country bread; Brioche Paine Perdu, with apple-cranberry compote; Jamestown Fish Soup, a spicy soup made with the daily catch, tomato, saffron, fennel hot pepper and a gruyère frico and; Cod “Acqua Pazza,” local Cod poached in a “crazy water” of white wine, hot pepper, garlic, parsley and a touch of tomato and served with potatoes and spinach.
(view the entire menu)

Join us in our sunny dining room from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. each Sunday through May. A dinner menu is offered from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.


Demand for CT, RI, & MA Coastal Wines Peaks with Record Attendance

Tasting Deal for 10th Anniversary of Coastal Wine Trail

Newport Vineyards in Fall, photo by Marianne Lee Photography

Newport Vineyards in Fall, photo by Marianne Lee Photography

Look out, Napa! Wineries in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts are seeing record demand for their whites, reds, and sparkling beverages. The Coastal Wine Trail, a nonprofit group of 14 wineries that weave through the heart of Southeastern New England, has quietly built a reputation for serving nationally recognized wines in unique tasting rooms that offer a deep connection to the roots of each bottle. Tourists and locals alike are taking notice, making the Coastal Wine Trail a top destination in New England.

The secret’s out. Tickets for the Coastal Wine Trail’s annual Wine, Cheese, and Chocolate Festival sold out two months before the event, even after expanding the event to allow 600 hundred additional guests. Even wineries are taking notice. In the past year, five new wineries have joined the Coastal Wine Trail, skyrocketing foot traffic to the wineries.

“There is a new energy on the trail,” said Maggie Harnett, Director of the Coastal Wine Trail, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with special tasting deals. “There is a growing awareness that wines made in Southeastern New England are truly exceptional and can compete on a national level.”

Member wineries have amassed an impressive collection of international and national awards, including a Gold Medal in the 2016 Indy International Wine Competition, a Silver Medal in the 2015 Amenti Del Vino 22nd Annual International Wine Competition, and second place in the Dry White Wine category from the Connecticut Specialty Food Association. Saltwater Farm Vineyard was named one of the Top 50 Romantic Wedding Venues in the U.S. by Brides Magazine.

The secret to the Coastal Wine Trail’s success? An unusually tight-knit community of winemakers who are dedicated to creating more than great wines. These winemakers, including a former dentist, snowboarding instructor, and engineer among them, want to convert every visitor into wine lovers, as they were once converted. Call them wine missionaries, because to join the Coastal Wine Trail, you must have a tasting room to connect with visitors.

Close proximity to each other also means travelers can tour the entire Wine Trail in two to three days, all the while sticking close to New England’s scenic coastline. The heart of the Coastal Wine Trail is less than 3 hours from New York City and 90 minutes from Boston.

To celebrate the Coastal Wine Trail’s 10th anniversary, member vineyards are offering a barrel of a deal for just a few more weeks: 67% off a Vintner’s Tasting Ticket that includes wine tastings for two at each of the 14 member wineries. Bottle yours today for just $99. Vintner’s Tasting Tickets can be purchased on the Coastal Wine Trail website: http://coastalwinetrail.com/on-sale-vintners-tasting-ticket/.

October 20, 2016 0 comment
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News Bites: RI Food Policy Council Food System “Snapshots” / Urban Greens Food Co-op / USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

by David Dadekian December 16, 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.

RI Food Policy Council Unveils Food System “Snapshots” to State Leaders at Inter-agency Food & Nutrition Policy Advisory Council (IFNPAC) meeting, Brings Local Food Systems Data to Forefront

Rhode Island Food Policy CouncilThe Rhode Island Food Policy Council (RIFPC) unveiled its food system snapshots last week to the Inter-agency Food and Nutrition Policy Advisory Council, sharing data about the food systems of all 39 Rhode Island cities and towns, as well as for the entire state. All 40 snapshots are available to download on the RIFPC website at www.rifoodcouncil.org.

On the heels of Governor Raimondo’s announcement that Rhode Island will be developing a State Food Plan, the release of these data will help stakeholders better understand the food systems of their state and communities, and identify leverage and action points from which to evolve and improve. RIFPC Chair Ken Payne notes, “food systems have to work at a community level, otherwise people, especially the most vulnerable, are put at risk; therefore the components of the food systems need to be understand locally. Let’s be clear- living in a place that has great, nutritious food is wonderful. We in RI are blessed to have an outstanding food culture. Good local food is a building block to a healthy future.”

These fact sheets are a first: comprehensive, locality-by-locality information about the food system in a state. They bring attention to the importance of food system impacts and issues – economic, social, and environmental – while remaining accessible and available for laypeople and experts alike. “The ability to collect, analyze, and clearly communicate data is central to our work to improve health outcomes for all Rhode Islanders,” said Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. “I applaud the Rhode Island Food Policy Council for this innovative new initiative. It will help us better understand the food system in Rhode Island communities so that we can eliminate gaps in access to food and boost our food economy, which will benefit the entire state.”

Leo Pollock, RIFPC Network Director, noted that this was an unprecedented effort, “we had no roadmap for how to proceed, and we learned a great deal along the way.” Lessons learned include that in some cases, there is no available source for specific data by municipality. The number of farms is one such data point. No entity maintains a complete list of farms, so the best municipal numbers were compiled from RIDEM and Farm Fresh RI lists, which are incomplete. The 2012 Census of Agriculture does not provide information at the level of municipality, so as a result, the number of farms reported in the fact sheet for Rhode Island was quite different from that of the Census.

While these fact sheets represent a single moment in a local food system, over time, as future series of “snapshots” are developed, the set as a whole will provide a dynamic picture of the evolving food system in our state and communities. “Rhode Island is experiencing exciting growth in its agricultural and local food sector,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. “These snapshots offer a valuable glimpse into the diversity and breadth of our food system; we look forward to working with the RI Food Policy Council and other partners to continue to build upon resources like this to shape stronger food policies for our state.”

The work of the RIFPC is made possible by the generous contributions of the Henry P. Kendall Foundation, van Beuren Charitable Foundation, and the John Merck Fund. Their contributions, along with funds from the Rhode Island Agricultural Partnership, supported the development of these fact sheets.


Urban Greens Food Co-op Announces Site of Future Grocery Store

Urban Greens Food Co-opIn an event at the Columbus Theater this evening, Urban Greens Food Co-op announced the future location of its consumer-owned grocery store. The retail store will be located at 93 Cranston Street, the site of the old Louttit Laundry building. The co-op store will be the anchor commercial tenant in a mixed use development including 39 residential units. Urban Greens will occupy a 7000 square foot retail grocery space. The Co-op will be a full-service grocery store, though it will emphasize natural, healthy, and local food in its product mix. This announcement comes after a multi-year search and planning effort by the Co-op’s Cooperative Council & Site Committee to secure a viable site for Providence’s first consumer-owned retail grocery store.

The former Louttit Laundry site has been abandoned since 1985, and an empty lot since 2008. Owned by the Providence Redevelopment Authority (PRA), it was a Brownfield site, requiring environmental remediation. The city was supportive of the co-op’s desire to locate the store on the site, and the PRA and Urban Greens have worked together over the last two years to create a plan for the site, and bring the appropriate developer on board to purchase and develop the site. The development team is a partnership of Bourne Avenue Capital Partners, D+P Real Estate, and Truth Box Studio.

Urban Greens grew out of a group of residents need for a full-scale grocery store on the west side of the city, especially one that offered healthy & local goods. “This site is ideal in so many ways for Urban Greens Food Co-op. It’s situated at the nexus point of three diverse neighborhoods: Federal Hill, West End & Upper South Providence, as well as being just west of downtown, and easily accessible from I95 and Rts 6/10” said Philip Trevett, an Urban Greens Cooperative Council Member, “we’re incredibly excited to help meet the food needs of our immediate neighborhood residents by while at the same time helping to expand consistant retail access to locally sourced foods in the Providence Metro area.”

Founded by a group of residents on the west side of Providence lacking a full-scale grocery store and seeking increased access to healthy foods closeby, Urban Greens Food Co-op now has 630+ member-owners, made up of residents of the surrounding neighborhoods, as well as from across the city and the state–all excited to spend their food dollars at a community-owned and invested grocery store. The innovative ownership model of a consumer co-op will ensure that local sourcing is a strong priority, and that profits stay in Rhode Island. The store will help fill a missing link in Rhode Island’s growing food economy by providing local farmers and producers a new, stable, year-round sales opportunity, and significantly increasing the consistent availability of local products to consumers. The store will provide and promote local, healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food options. The Co-op will support the local economy by creating new jobs, supporting local farmers and producers, and reinvesting its profits locally.

Urban Greens Food Co-op announced the future location of the Co-op’s much anticipated retail grocery store in a celebration and informational session at the Columbus Theatre on Thursday, December 3rd. Together with the project developer, the Urban Greens Council and Site Committee unveiled initial plans, including preliminary building design, as well as presenting information about the Co-op’s funding structure and overall project timeline. Representatives from the City and the State joined the evening’s speaking program: Peter Asen, Director of the City’s Healthy Communities Office, Mark Huang, the City’s Director of Economic Development, and Ken Ayars, Chief of the Rhode Island Division of Agriculture.

The event was attended by over 275 community members and featured food & drink (generous donations provided by Pizza J, Acacia Cafe, Seven Stars Bakery & The Avery Bar) and live music by Chris Monti.

Please visit http://www.UrbanGreens.com for more details, or get in touch with us using the above contact info if you have further questions.


DEM Promotes Growth of Local Farm Economy with Latest Grant Awards

A total of $244,109 will be invested to support specialty crop production and sales in Rhode Island

The Department of Environmental Management announced today the award of farm viability grants to six Rhode Island-based groups working to support local farmers; the grants, totaling $244,109, are made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and will support 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.

“Rhode Islanders take great pride in their agricultural heritage,” said Governor Raimondo.  “The exciting growth of our local food economy is a testament to that history and expertise – supporting thousands of jobs, businesses, and families across the state.  We all play a role in moving our state forward, and I am proud of these grant recipients and their efforts to support Rhode Island food producers and to foster innovation and growth in local agriculture.”

“We are thrilled to announce these awards that help to sustain our local farming industry and support the livelihoods of so many families in Rhode Island,” said DEM Director Janet Coit.  “Promoting growth in this important economic sector requires a coordinated yet varied approach that focuses on supporting growers and cultivating their practices but also increasing consumer knowledge and demand.  We are pleased to reflect this approach in the diversity of initiatives funded in this grant round and look forward to the success of these projects.”

Grant recipients include:

  • University of Rhode Island, Nutrition and Food Sciences Department – $20,131
    Rhode Island-based Produce Safety Alliance will provide training for farmers in safe produce planting, harvesting and handling practices to better assist them in meeting FDA regulatory compliance mandates and/or buyer requirements.
  • Alex Caserta and the RI Public Broadcast System (PBS) – $48,745
    PBS will air seven episodes of the Harvesting Rhode Island television series to promote Rhode Island specialty crop growers and educate consumers on the benefits of buying locally-produced crops.  This series brings viewers on location to see the farms, meet the farmers, and hear them talk about food cultivation and what it takes to grow these crops.  The series’ pilot, which aired last spring, was funded through a $35,000 farm viability grant in 2013.
  • Rhode Island Agricultural Council (RIAC) – $14,291
    The Council will develop and implement a promotional campaign to enhance the visibility and viability of specialty crops throughout Rhode Island and New England.  Campaign activities will include development of a website, promotional materials, and a traveling display highlighting local specialty crops.  Presentations will also be given at agricultural events throughout New England and in classrooms across Rhode Island.
  • Farm Fresh Rhode Island – $49,621
    Farm Fresh will engage in a systematic approach to increasing the demand for locally grown specialty crops in school cafeterias.  Activities will include joining school district wellness committees, developing and implementing educational programs for classrooms and after-school programs, and facilitating communications among purchasers, producers and processor/distributors.
  • Northeast Organic Farming Association of Rhode Island – $20,000
    The Association will provide training and technical support to farmers to enhance the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops.  Specifically, efforts will focus on training farmers to produce high-value organic crops to meet local market demand through a series of advanced grower training seminars; technical support from local farm advisors and on-farm workshops where organic techniques will be demonstrated will be provided.
  • Rhode Island Beekeepers Association (RIBA) – $27,400
    The Association will provide registered Rhode Island beekeepers with a genetically-superior queen for re-queening of an existing hive.  The project supports RIBA’s ongoing efforts to develop its own breeding program and will assist local beekeepers in invigorating and growing their colonies and increasing disease and mite resistance; it will also support the viability of the honeybee population, increasing the yield and quality of Rhode Island fruit and vegetable crops.

In addition to funding these grants, USDA awarded $63,921 to DEM to strengthen the “Get Fresh, Buy Local” campaign.  The funds will be used to support specialty crop sales and improve promotional materials and activities, including featuring produce demonstrations by local celebrity chefs at farmers’ markets. To date, DEM has awarded more than $2 million in farm viability grants to support the competitiveness of locally-grown specialty crops.

Rhode Island is experiencing significant growth in its agricultural and local food sector.  The state’s food system supports 60,000 jobs in Rhode Island and more than 7,000 businesses.  Rhode Island is home to more than 1,200 farms – which are largely family operations and occupy a total of 68,000 acres across the state.  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; eight indoor winter markets; and numerous pick-your-own and farm-stand operations.

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

December 16, 2015 0 comment
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News Bites: 2015 Scouting for Food Drive / Easy Entertaining Inc. 2015 Thanksgiving / Backdoor Bread by Seven Stars Bakery / Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market

by David Dadekian November 3, 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.

Boy Scouts Prepare for 28th Annual Food Drive, Ask Community to Give Generously

Scouts Will Deliver Door Hangers for RI Community Food Bank Donations on October 31

Food will be collected on November 7, Beginning at 9 a.m.

Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America

Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America

Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America is preparing for its annual “Scouting for Food Good Turn” drive for the 28th consecutive year. On October 31st, thousands of Scouts from across the state will be distributing door hangers to neighbors’ homes seeking donations of nutritional, non-perishable canned goods. Donation pick-ups will take place the following Saturday, November 7 starting at 9 a.m., and will be delivered to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

More than 200 troops will participate in the drive, collecting canned goods from homes throughout Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and Connecticut.

“As members of the community, we want to ensure that all of our neighbors have access to nutritional food,” said Joe DeStefano, Volunteer Coordinator for the annual Scouting for Food drive since it began in 1987. “Scouting for food does just that while teaching Scouts the importance of helping those in need.”

Each month, 60,000 Rhode Islanders seek food assistance through the Food Bank’s network of emergency food programs. 14.4% of Rhode Island households are food insecure, and 4.6% of Rhode Island households experience severe hunger. 150,000 Rhode Islanders are living in poverty.

Over the years, the Scouts have collected more than 8.5 million pounds of food for the Food Bank.

“We are thrilled to have the support of the Boy Scouts for the 28th year,” said RI Community Food Bank CEO Andrew Schiff. “We rely on these dedicated young people to help stock our shelves just in time for winter, providing food for the 60,000 Rhode Islanders we serve each month.”

For more than 25 years, the Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America’s commitment to this cause has inspired community members to get involved.

“As we look forward to another successful drive, we ask the community to give generously,” said John Mosby, Narragansett Council, Scout Executive/CEO. “This year, we hope to reach record numbers.”

Scouting for Food, the largest food drive in New England, is a cooperative effort supported by the Narragansett Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, WPRI-12 News, Fox Providence, the Rhode Island National Guard, The Valley Breeze and area fire stations.

Following the USDA’s guidelines for healthy eating, donors are encouraged to fill their bags with the Food Bank’s most needed items:

  • Canned Soup, Tuna, Canned Meats, Peanut Butter, Nuts
  • Canned Fruits & Vegetables, Dried Fruit, Tomato Sauce
  • Nutritious Breakfast Cereals, Whole Wheat Pasta, Rice
  • Granola Bars and other healthy snacks
  • Canned or Dried Beans

If the Boy Scouts are not able to cover your neighborhood, please visit your local food pantry or the RI Community Food Bank located at 200 Niantic Ave., Providence.


Easy Entertaining Inc Releases 2015 Thanksgiving Catering Menu!

Easy Entertaining Thanksgiving, Photo Credit: David Dadekian, Eat Drink RI

Easy Entertaining Thanksgiving, Photo Credit: David Dadekian, Eat Drink RI

It’s time to start planning your Thanksgiving menu and what better way to enjoy this year’s harvest than with a Thanksgiving feast that’s been sourced directly from farms in your very own backyard? Easy Entertaining Inc, Rhode Island’s premier farm-to-fork Cafe and Catering Collaborative, has released their 2015 Thanksgiving catering menu to make this year’s holiday spread more about time spent with family and friends and less about the stress of planning and preparing a meal.

This homegrown catering company has produced a locally sourced Thanksgiving meal for their clientele for the past 7 years, each year growing more successful and mouthwatering than the last. A gourmet and sustainable Thanksgiving is easily attainable with the help of Easy Entertaining’s catering services whether it’s for the entire meal, just a few sides, or even simply a ready to roast turkey sourced from Baffoni’s Poultry Farm in Johnston.

“New England is one of the most bountiful places to live [and eat] this time of year. Our Fall season produces exuberant amounts of hand picked fare so why not enjoy a Thanksgiving that’s been sourced and produced from your neck of the woods?” says Kaitlyn Roberts, Proprietor and Executive Chef of Easy Entertaining.

Easy Entertaining Inc has taken pride in sourcing more than 70% of its products from within a 250 mile radius year round for the last nine years. Their mantra enforces their focus on fresh, seasonal, and gourmet cuisine. A Thanksgiving from Easy Entertaining Inc is lavish with locally raised vegetables, breads and pastries baked in-house, humanely raised poultry, and so much more to provide a true taste of Rhode Island. Effortlessly enjoy a locavore’s feast this year and stock your table with items such as their Signature Stuffing made with day old house made breads, caramelized onions, dried cranberries, maple syrup, and all natural sausage, or a Southern Sweet Potato Casserole featuring whipped Schartner Farm’s sweet potatoes with a touch of orange, nutmeg, cinnamon, and brown sugar. If you’re the family that craves something sweet after your feast the pastry department will be baking away creating Cranberry Apple Pies, Chocolate Cranberry Tarts, and more to satiate your sweet tooth.

Clients have raved over Easy Entertaining’s Thanksgiving menu for years stating, “Easy Entertaining makes Thanksgiving very easy and affordable to contribute delicious farm-to-table food to a Thanksgiving celebration for families of every size.” (Teri P., RI).

Easy, delicious, and affordable are just a handful of the reasons clients return to Easy Entertaining year after year to cater or supplement their Thanksgiving feast. “The Thanksgiving Dinner I ordered from Easy Entertaining made my holiday much more enjoyable! The turkey was fresh from the farm and the best I’ve had. The vegetables and homemade gravy were amazing. My family loved it! Everything was fresh and delicious and the best part was I didn’t have to shop for anything or spend hours preparing.” states Caroline Corrente, a repeat client of Easy Entertaining’s Cafe and Catering services.

For this year’s Thanksgiving Menu head to Easy Entertaining’s website at www.EasyEntertainingRI.com. For more information on Easy Entertaining Inc and Thanksgiving please contact Nik Delfino at (401) 437-6090 or e-mail him at nik@EasyEntertainingRI.com.


Backdoor Bread, a whole grain project presented by Seven Stars Bakery

Seven Stars Bakery co-owner and baker, Jim Williams, will be offering an exclusive and rotating selection of organic whole grain breads for sale during the Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market beginning on Saturday, November 7. He will be opening the backdoor of the production bakery at the Hope Artiste Village, where he will be selling a variety of all whole grain breads that he makes himself from start to finish. Jim is part of a whole grain movement happening in the U.S., sourcing and supporting farmers who are growing long forgotten grains again. Grains will include: Emmer, Spelt, Redeemer, Red Fife, Kamut, Einkorn and anything else that becomes available that sounds interesting. These whole grains are being grown for flavor, rather than yield alone.

In January 2015, Seven Stars Bakery purchased a stone mill from Austria and is now milling all of the whole grains used at the bakery, over 200 pounds per day. It has brought the craft of baking to a new level for the bakers at Seven Stars. An added bonus is that many people who have not eaten white bread in years are enjoying these whole grain breads as part of their diet.

Come see Jim and support this inspiring new project on Saturdays at the Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, 9am-1pm, starting on November 7, 2015.

Follow Backdoor Bread on Instagram : https://instagram.com/backdoorbread/

Please direct any questions to Jim Williams jim@sevenstarsbakery.com


Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market Celebrates November Opening

New England’s Largest Winter Farmers Market Announces 2015-2016 Season

Saturday November 7th celebrates the opening of 9th season of Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market. The market, which is the largest wintertime farmers market in New England, hosts over 70 vendors and occupies 16,000 square feet throughout the Hope Artiste Village. The market is open every Saturday from 9AM to 1PM beginning November 7th through May 14th, 2016.

“Farm Fresh opened a winter market in 2007 with seven vendors in Downtown Providence at AS220,” said Farm Fresh Co-Executive Director Sheri Griffin. “Since then, increased support of farmers and local food in Rhode Island has resulted in more demand for local produce year-round.” Farmers that participate in the Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market have been able to meet this demand through incremental expansion of their businesses and by utilizing growing and storage techniques for cold-weather climates.

The Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market expanded in 2013 to host more farmers, food artisans and prepared food vendors in both of the spacious main corridors and courtyard of the former Hope Webbing Company The market has since thrived in both hallways allowing a more comfortable customer experience while still offering high-quality, locally-grown and sourced products in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere.

As you stroll through the historic halls of the Hope Artiste Village each Saturday this winter, you can enjoy a diverse medley of local farms and vendors, listen to live music, sample fresh produce and enjoy lunch on the spot from prepared food vendors or some of Rhode Island’s favorite food trucks in the central courtyard of the building.

Wintertime market-goers can expect a variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables including: apples, beets, cabbage, carrots, onions, cranberries, mushrooms, greens, potatoes, radishes, winter squash, and more. Vendors will also be offering: locally-raised eggs, pork, chicken, beef, fish, charcuterie and shellfish; locally-produced applesauce, tomato sauce, jams, jellies and pickles; as well as prepared cheese, granola, bread, cupcakes, crepes, pies & baked treats and dog biscuits.

The Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market is now easier to get to than ever before. The Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority’s (RIPTA) new R-Line bus route drops shoppers off right at the front door of the farmers market. For information on the R-Line’s stops and schedules, visit www.ripta.com/11-1. For customers driving or biking to the market, it is located at both 999 and 1005 Main Street in Pawtucket. Parking lots are located around the perimeter of the building as well as street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. Bike racks are located in the central courtyard.

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