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:

Wright’s Dairy Farm

loading...

The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 1 of 4
farmsnewswine & drinks

The Rhode to Recovery: RI Food and Drink, Part 1 of 4

by David Dadekian November 18, 2020
written by David Dadekian

From Yurview.com:

It’s been more than half a year since the Coronavirus put a fork into the concept of business as usual, but it’s been particularly tough on folks working in the food and beverage industry. After months of navigating a changing, uncertain landscape, industry professionals are taking a realistic look at what the future holds in a series of virtual panel discussions sponsored by YurView and hosted by Eat Drink RI President David Dadekian.

In this episode:

  • Amber Jackson, The Black Leaf Tea and Culture Shop
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
  • Cathryn Kennedy, Wright’s Dairy Farm & Bakery
    • Instagram
    • Instagram (Cake Shop)
    • Instagram (Ice Cream)
    • Facebook
    • Facebook (Ice Cream)
  • John Sgambato, Yacht Club Soda
    • Instagram
    • Facebook

Please check out all The Rhode to Recovery episodes and subscribe to the entire Eat Drink RI You Tube channel.

Also available as an audio-only podcast below.

https://media.blubrry.com/eatdrinkritheshow/eatdrinkri.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/rhode_to_recovery_ri_food_drink_s01e01.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Stitcher | Blubrry | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS | More

November 18, 2020 0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrRedditStumbleuponWhatsappEmail
farmsnews

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

by David Dadekian October 6, 2021
written by David Dadekian
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

For Release: April 25, 2013
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

GOVERNOR CHAFEE, DEM DIRECTOR COIT, RINLA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHANNON BRAWLEY, FARMERS AND LEGISLATORS CELEBRATE RHODE ISLAND AGRICULTURE DAY IN STATE HOUSE FESTIVITIES TODAY

PROVIDENCE – The Department of Environmental Management hosted Rhode Island Agriculture Day at the State House today to recognize the importance of the state’s $170 million agriculture industry.

“Agriculture provides numerous benefits to Rhode Island’s economy, quality of life, open space, and access to local foods and horticultural products,” said Governor Lincoln Chafee. “Today’s celebration is an opportunity to focus public attention on Rhode Island’s agricultural industry and educate our citizens on the many ways that agriculture touches their lives each day.”

This year’s RI Agriculture Day program recognized the 100th anniversary of the RI Fruit Growers Association with the preview of a new documentary film on the state’s apple industry, entitled “Vanishing Orchards.” In addition, the event highlighted a new initiative to promote and market local seafood as well as ongoing programs to maintain the viability of farming in Rhode Island. Farming is an integral part of the state’s economy and provides a valuable contribution to Rhode Island’s open space and quality of life. Beyond fresh and local produce, nursery stock, sod and Rhode Island’s own Rhody Fresh milk, local beef and aquaculture, agriculture contributes to tourism, open space, landscaping businesses, and a variety of food-related industries.

“All of our state’s natural resource-based functions – agriculture, aquaculture and fishing – result directly in jobs and opportunities to promote Rhode Island,” noted DEM Director Janet Coit. “This can be seen across the state, from the expansion of farmers’ markets to the promotion of delicious local produce, meats, and seafood in our outstanding restaurants. Agriculture represents a bright spot in the economy of our beautiful state, thanks to growing consumer interest in products grown and caught locally and the impressive entrepreneurial skills of Rhode Island farmers and fishermen.”

Rhode Island has 1,219 farms, mostly family run, which occupy 61,000 acres. The state has 50 seasonal farmers markets in urban, suburban and rural areas, seven indoor winter markets, and numerous pick-your-own farm stand operations. According to the 2007 USDA Census of Agriculture, Rhode Island was ranked number three in the country for direct marketing sales of fruits and vegetables from farms to consumers, on a per farm basis. Rhode Island also had $6.3 million worth of agriculture sales sold directly to the public, equal to 9.5 percent of all agriculture market sales, which ranked Rhode Island first in the US for percentage of direct market sales. The Economic Impact Study conducted by URI significantly determined that many economic values surpassed USDA figures.

New Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Logo and Website Unveiled

DEM Director Coit noted that the seafood sector is nearing its way to being as successful as the agricultural sector in local marketing and sales. The economic value of just the raw product sales of the RI agriculture and commercial fishing industries combined is $266 million per year, with even greater far-reaching economic benefits when multiplier impacts are factored in (Rhode Island Commercial Fishing and Seafood Industries Report, October 2011).

With the passage of the Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative law in 2011, the state has committed to creating a framework for effective and sustainable marketing for Rhode Island seafood. A new logo that will be used to identify RI grown seafood products was rolled out at today’s Agriculture Day program. In seafood shops and supermarkets throughout the state, consumers will soon be seeing this logo depicting locally-harvested fish and shellfish products such as fresh squid, lobsters, fish, oysters and clams. Also, the Seafood Marketing Collaborative has developed a new website where consumers can get up-to-date information about local seafood and product availability. The website address is www.seafoodri.org.

In addition to our mouth-watering seafood, Rhode Island is also well known for the many varieties of delicious, sweet fruit it produces each year at orchards and farms throughout the state. To honor the generations of fruit growers who have dedicated their efforts to producing bounty after bounty of apples, peaches, plums, berries, and other succulent fruits for Rhode Islanders to enjoy, the Agriculture Day program recognized and honored the RI Fruit Growers Association as it celebrates its 100th Anniversary this year.

The new documentary film on the state’s apple industry, entitled “Vanishing Orchards,” will preview at 7 p.m. on May 23 at the Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport. Produced by Alex Caserta with funding from DEM, this is positive story about the changes within the fruit growing industry in RI over the past 10 years as the industry has adopted retail marketing techniques such as pick your own and agri-tourism. As a result, the industry has survived and has thrived in RI. Governor Lincoln Chafee was interviewed for this film.

Large Variety of Locally-Grown Foods Available for Sampling

As part of the Rhode Island Agriculture Day festivities, approximately 50 exhibitors hosted displays in the State House Rotunda throughout the day. Exhibitors included farms, local food purveyors, and land trusts, as well as government and non-profit agencies that work with farmers. Coordinated by DEM’s Division of Agriculture, the exhibits highlighted Rhode Island agriculture and the many organizations that collectively participate in its viability.

Several exhibitors offered food samples, such as stuffed quahogs from Dave’s Marketplace; fresh cupcakes and their own cheddar cheese directly from Wright’s Dairy Farm and Bakery; assorted cheeses from Narragansett Creamery; oysters from Matunuck Oyster Farm; johnnycakes from the Kenyon’s Grist and Corn Meal Company; Rhody Fresh milk and Butterkase cheese from the RI Dairy Farms Cooperative; egg sandwiches, Greek yogurt and Del’s liquid lemonade from Little Rhody Foods; and Arruda Dairy’s fresh plain and flavored milk including chocolate and coffee. Also, fresh cider from Jaswell’s Farm in Smithfield; fresh made fudge from Confreda Farms and Greenhouse in Cranston; Cabot Cheese made with milk from RI dairy farms; Rich’s Sweet Heat sauce for RI-grown vegetables and meats; and fresh assorted pies from Gardner Pie Company were available for sampling.

Along with Governor Chafee and Director Coit, participants in the program included Shannon Brawley, executive director of the RI Nursery and Landscape Association and EDC board member; Senator Susan Sosnowski; Representative Art Handy; and Sandie and Gil Barden of Barden Family Orchards in North Scituate.

October 6, 2021 0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrRedditStumbleuponWhatsappEmail
farmsnews

Wright’s Dairy Farm has been named Rhode Island’s 2011 Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year

by David Dadekian August 4, 2011
written by David Dadekian

Wright's Dairy Farm & Bakery

Wright's Dairy Farm & Bakery

The RI Department of Environmental Management released the following press release announcing that the Rhode Island Green Pastures Committee has chosen Wright’s Dairy Farm in North Smithfield as the Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year.

 

The Department of Environmental Management announces that Wright’s Dairy Farm, Inc. of North Smithfield has been named Rhode Island’s 2011 Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year by the Rhode Island Green Pastures Committee. Winning dairy farmers from each New England state will be honored at an awards banquet in September at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA.

Wright’s Dairy is a fifth-generation family dairy farm that keeps the family tradition of producing quality dairy and bakery products alive every day. There are 10 immediate family members involved in the day-to-day operations, and they make a conscious choice each day to get along and work together for the good of the business. Fifty full and part-time employees work with the family members to accomplish the many varied tasks necessary to run the operation.

The farm’s 140 cows are milked twice daily in a new, double milking parlor that was acquired in 2009. All cows on the farm, starting with the calves to the milkers, have diets balanced by a nutritionist. They utilize high-quality forages to form the base of the rations and then complement these feeds with a balanced mixture of grains, vitamins, and minerals. Wright’s Dairy recently received a Vermont DHIA award for consistently producing high-quality milk.  This year, the farm has started to see the results of a new breeding program. The heifers are calving in under 24 months of age, and peak milk has risen.

Wright’s Dairy is an institution for many Rhode Islanders. Customers who visited the dairy farm as children now bring their own children to buy milk and bakery items, and watch through the viewing window as the cows are milked. Milk is processed and sold on site.  Milk travels via stainless steel pipeline from the milking barn to the dairy plant where it is pasteurized, homogenized, and bottled for sale in the farm’s retail store.  Wright’s Dairy has also begun making its own ice cream, from the base to the finished product, using nothing but the finest ingredients.  Beginning this month, quarts will be available for sale in the farm’s retail store.  The farm has also partnered with an artisan cheese plant in Vermont to produce cheddar cheese curd and aged cheddar, which will also be available for purchase in the retail store.

Wright’s Dairy Farm uses the farm’s milk for puddings and custards and its heavy cream to make many real whipped cream cakes, pies and pastries.  The bakery also produced a full line of muffins, cookies, brownies, chocolates and custom-decorated special occasion cakes.

The Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year award is sponsored by the New England Green Pastures Committee, made up of agricultural interests such as state and federal agricultural offices and farm organizations. Rhode Island’s Green Pastures Committee is coordinated by DEM’s Division of Agriculture, with members including the RI Dairy Farmers Cooperative, the RI Farm Bureau, the RI Farm Service Agency and the Agri-Mark Cooperative.

August 4, 2011 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