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

store

loading...

chefs & restaurantsfarmsnews

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
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrRedditStumbleuponWhatsappEmail
chefs & restaurantsnews

Sin Desserts in Providence opens retail store and café

by David Dadekian March 28, 2012
written by David Dadekian
One of the pastry display cases at Sin Desserts new shop

One of the pastry display cases at Sin Desserts new shop

Sin, an award-winning dessert bakery based in Providence, owned and operated by pastry chef Jennifer Luxmoore, has expanded into a storefront café and retail operation on the ground floor of their 200 Allens Avenue location. The shop is now open with a grand opening celebration planned for Saturday, April 14. In addition to cakes, the store sells an assortment of cookies, cupcakes, muffins, scones and what Luxmoore calls “cupcake shots”—mini versions of her cupcakes for 75¢. There is hot coffee and cold-brewed iced coffee for sale as well.

I’ve had the opportunity to sample many of Luxmoore’s desserts at various culinary events and a couple of weddings over the last few years. Her work has often jumped out at me as very flavorful and always a great dessert, while not being overly sweet. This past November I was a judge for the City of Providence‘s 375th birthday cake competition, which Luxmoore won, a decision I was happy to take part in. Her cake was beautiful and was also my favorite bite of the evening (the competitors served the judges cupcake samples of their larger creations to evaluate taste). That cake is on display in the retail space and you can find some photos of it on Facebook.

Sin Desserts menu board

Sin Desserts menu board

I stopped in to the store on it’s second day of being open. Luxmoore treated me to a Cheddar Bacon Scone and iced coffee while we talked about her opening this new part of her business. “We’d been having a bunch of people stop in over the course of the last year, thinking that we were a traditional bakery,” Luxmoore said. “Since we were only custom order, we didn’t have anything to give them. I hate to send people away without treats! So we started looking for a retail space, but didn’t find the right space. Everything was too big, too small or too expensive. Then late in [2011], I learned that the gallery space next to me was going to be open.”

After a remodel—which included the display cases, coffee preparation stand, a bookshelf of great pastry cookbooks and other reading materials, and seating for sixteen—the store was ready to open. “We’re starting out small—a few items and a few flavors of each item—and we’ll expand as we get busier. We have a great Cheddar and Bacon Scone and Blueberry Muffin, Chocolate Chip Cookies baked fresh every morning, plus a different cookie every week. We started out with our favorite Chipotle Peanut Butter! Plus we have Whoopie Pies, cupcakes and brownies, and of course Coffee and Iced Coffee,” Luxmoore said.

The Sin Desserts shop will be open Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 200 Allens Avenue in Providence. You can find Sin on Facebook and at eatwicked.com.

Sin Desserts new space

Sin Desserts new space

March 28, 2012 0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrRedditStumbleuponWhatsappEmail
chefs & restaurantsfarmsnews

News Bites: Aquidneck Honey, Easy Entertaining and Thee Red Fez

by David Dadekian January 7, 2012
written by David Dadekian

Aquidneck Honey

Aquidneck Honey, supplier of pure, raw, local, chemical-free honey, launched an online storefront over the holidays. In addition to some of the best honey I’ve tasted delivered in 1 pound and large quart containers, Aquidneck Honey sells cut honey comb, a number lip balms in assorted flavors and honey straws, which are an excellent treat. Aquidneck Honey also makes up gift baskets with an assortment of their products and other local goods. For a limited time when you make a purchase totalling $50 or more and enter the promo code “hat” you will receive a free Aquidneck Honey baseball cap. If you can’t buy direct from Jeff the Bee Man at several farmers markets and local supermarkets, you can still get your Aquidneck Honey fix at http://aquidneckhoney.com/store.html

Easy Entertaining Inc.

Easy Entertaining Inc., a full-service catering company dedicated to preparing local and fresh food, is launching a Grab and Go Lunch service from their new location inside the Hope Artiste Village at 1005 Main Street in Pawtucket (home to the Pawtucket / Wintertime Farmers’ Market). Take out lunch will be prepared Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. each week and the menu will change weekly. To sign up for a weekly emailed menu, email info@easyentertainingri.com and ask to be added to their weekly lunch menu distribution. For this upcoming first week the offerings include: Roasted Root Vegetable Soup ($3.95), Baffoni Chicken & Rice Soup ($4.95), The Locavore’s Garden salad ($4.95) and The California Skinny Chicken Salad ($6.95). You can view their menu here on Eat Drink RI.

Thee Red Fez

On Friday evening, January 6, Thee Red Fez on Peck St. in Providence turned over their kitchen to James Mark, one of the cooks at Nick’s on Broadway and formerly a cook at Fez and Momofuku Ko in New York, for a late night menu that had been hyped during the days leading up to it with Twitter hashtags of #fezlatenite, #americaisethnic and #DumplingHaus. As you can see from the menu below Mark, along with Fez cook Tim Shulga, prepared a number of dumplings as well as bao, steamed buns that the much-lauded Momofuku Chef David Chang made into one of the hottest food items in New York a few years back. To say Mark nailed it would be an understatement. Everything on the menu was very well done with the standouts for me being the natang dumplings and the two buns.

Not to get all misty, but things like this is why food in our area is leaps and bounds ahead of other U.S. regions. We have talented chefs who make creative, interesting—let’s just say delicious—food, and a population who is willing to support it. Thee Fez sold out of all the late night menu items last night and Mark is doing it again tonight. Plus he told me he’ll be serving ramen this evening as well. If you like great eats and you think you have to go to New York or San Francisco for them, you’re wrong. Get yourself over to Thee Red Fez tonight. A special thanks should be given to Thee Red Fez owner Chef Ed Reposa for aiding and abetting Mark’s menu.

Thee Red Fez late nite menu from guest crook James E. Mark

January 7, 2012 0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrRedditStumbleuponWhatsappEmail

Search:

Recent Posts:

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

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

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

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

    October 25, 2022

Advertisement:

Blackbird Farm

Advertisement:

Advertise with Eat Drink RI

Advertisement:

Advertisement:

Advertisement:

Advertisement:

Food Trucks:

Facebook
My Tweets

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

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

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

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

Rhode Island Foundation 2014 Innovation Fellow

Rhode Island Foundation 2014 Innovation Fellow

Instagram

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

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


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

Terms and Conditions – Privacy Policy