About Farm Fresh Rhode Island

Farm Fresh Rhode Island is a 501c3 not-for-profit founded in 2004.

Mission

Farm Fresh Rhode Island is growing a local food system that values the environment, health and quality of life of RI farmers and eaters.

Armory Market

Part incubator, part activator, our programs grow the local food system by building capacity in three areas:
Producers → Markets → Eaters

Vision

A New England abundant with diverse family farms and fertile soils, with locally and honestly produced foods and flavors at the heart of every dinnertable.

Objectives

  • Preserve Rhode Island farmland and our agricultural and culinary knowledge
  • Build healthier communities
  • Increase access to fresher, tastier food
  • Improve impact of food production and distribution on our environment
  • Strengthen community-based businesses
See also: Our Staff, Our Board, Our Affiliations, Our Funders

Donate now. In our small state, your donation goes the extra mile so our food doesn't have to. Your contribution is tax-deductible.

Market Connections
Growing new models for the local food system

  Overview & Goals Since Partners
Farmers Markets 11 summer markets in Providence, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, West Warwick, Middletown, Newport
expand urban access; connect urban and rural; revitalize public spaces; create consistent experience across the markets		 2004 Aquidneck Growers, Brown, City of Pawtucket, City of Providence, Hope St Farmers, Thundermist
WIC & Seniors Coupons Fresh food access for low-income families
increase low-income access		 2004 RI Dept of Health, RI Div of Ag
Local Food Forum Yearly networking event for farmers and buyers
increase direct farm-to-business sales; expand network of local food movement		 2004 Brown
Fresh Bucks SNAP and credit cards at farmers' markets
increase low-income access; increase dollars spent at markets; offer gift coins		 2007 RI Dept of Human Services, RI Div of Ag, Wholesome Wave
Farm-to-School One-on-one relationship-building and curriculum for independent schools
increase direct farm-to-school sales, specifically for schools with independently operated food service; foster a new generation of healthy eaters
 2007 Brown, RISD, Aramark, Chartwells, Sodexo
Wintertime Farmers Market Indoor year-round marketplace for local food
foster all-season marketplace; offer year-round income to producers; offer year-round food to consumers; strengthen RI's ability to feed itself in every season		 2007  
Market Basket CSA-like program at the Armory market
strengthen neighborhood markets; guarantee farmers’ income; grow markets' customer base; offer convenient way to get local foods; offer a stepping stone to full CSAs; offer hands-on education in seasonal eating		 2008  
Market Mobile Pooled farm-to-business delivery
promote more efficient distribution; reduce need for individual trucks (time and gas) and invoicing; expand business access		 2009 RI Div of Ag
Farm to Food Pantry Deliver fresh food overharvest to the needy
increase low-income access; reduce food waste; glean extra food in the fields; use extra capacity on Market Mobile trucks to provide fresh food to food pantries
 2011  
Veggie Box CSA-like workplace and community center delivery
connect with new customers for farmers' bumper crops; increase number of farms with capacity to offer large quantities of produce; offer convenient way to get local foods; offer a stepping stone to full CSAs; offer hands-on education in seasonal eating		 2011  
Providence Public Market Permanent indoor market for RI food producers
provide consistent venue, developed and driven by the needs of producers and eaters; create space for direct and consignment sales, shared storage and shared distribution; connect urban and rural RI		 In dev.  

Growing Producers
Growing our local food supply

  Overview & Goals Since Partners
Farmland Preservation Open space conservation and smart growth policies
advise on policymaking that secures a future for RI farmland and fresh food		 2006 RI Land Trust Council
Farmer Newsletter Monthly news and info by e-mail
share resources to increase farm viability; support farms of all shapes and sizes; foster a network of community food security-minded farmers		 2007  
Heritage Food Producers Heirloom beans, oats at our farmers markets
renew regional production of grains, nuts and pulses; diversify foods being produced in New England to provide for a whole, sustainable, affordable diet; strengthen regional food security		 2007 Green Thumbs Farm, GrandyOats
Land Jobs Stuff Bulletin Board Resource sharing within the ag community
support and connect beginning and elder farmers		 2008 SEMAP, CISA, RI Div of Ag
Farmers Market Manual A how-to guide to selling your food
support farmers who want to sell at farmers market		 2010 RI Rural Development Council, RI Div of Ag
Harvest Kitchen At-risk youth producing value-added local foods
make a wider variety of everyday foods that use local ingredients; turn overharvest into a new product opportunity for farmers; provide hands-on culinary and marketing training to youth in the juvenile justice system		 2010 RI DCYF Division of Juvenile Correction, RI Dept of Health, RI Foundation
Open Kitchen Shared food processing site for farmers and low-income start-up incubator
provide affordable training and rental; connect users with food sourced from farms; connect users with market venues for their product; connect users with microloans; provide certified kitchen for farmers who want to produce value-added foods; provide certified kitchen for immigrant, women and low-income entrepreneurs; diversify and expand local products available at market venues		 In dev.  

Growing Eaters
Growing local demand for good food

  Overview & Goals Since Partners
Local Food Guide Online database at FarmFresh.org
share information about what's in season and how to get local food; provide online presence for farms; increase direct farmer and buyer connections; profile family farms; map connections between buyers and growers; strengthen regional food system of Southern New England		 2005 SEMAP, CISA, RI Div of Ag
Market Newsletter Weekly news from the markets
share information about what's in season and how to get local food; increase farmers' market attendance		 2005  
Healthy Foods, Healthy Families Hands-on lessons and recipes for kids and families
share culinary knowledge about seasonal eating; support healthy eating in schools, at markets and in low-income communities		 2005 Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI
Buy Local Raising consumer awareness of local food
increase direct farmer and buyer connections; increase consumption of local foods through indirect venues; grow the network of businesses that buy local and consumers who seek local food		 2007 RI Div of Ag
Local Food Fest Yearly celebration of farmers, fishermen and food artisans
promote seasonal eating; grow the network of businesses that buy local and consumers who seek local food		 2007 Castle Hill, Newport Harbor Corp.
Healthy Servings for Seniors Hands-on lessons and recipes at senior centers
share culinary knowledge about seasonal eating; support healthy eating for individuals on a budget; farmers at the senior centers; field trips to farmers markets		 2011 URI SNAP Ed
Fruit & Vegetable Prescriptions Nutrition education and incentives in a clinical setting
incentivize fresh produce for families with young children identified for risk of diet-related disease; demonstrate local farmers' role to play in addressing diet-related disease; operate and collect data for a new model of prevention, with implications for new healthy policies that increase demand for local farms' produce		 2011 Thundermist, Wholesome Wave

Who's Who at Farm Fresh RI
Board of Directors
  • Chris Clegg
    Farmer, Four Town Farm
  • Kim Cormier
    Strategic Marketing & Product Innovation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI
  • Gerra Harrigan
    Director of Business Development, New Harvest Coffee
  • Chase Hogoboom, Treasurer
    President, Composite Energy Technologies
  • Nancy Miller
    Restaurateur
  • Skip Paul
    Farmer, Wishing Stone Farm
  • Kristina Peterson, President
    Director of Corporate Communications, Hasbro
  • Tyler Ray, Secretary
    Attorney, Duffy & Sweeney, LTD
  • Lucie Searle
    Development Manager, AS220
Farm Fresh RI Affiliations
Farm Fresh RI Funders
Farm Fresh Rhode Island is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2004. These funders share our vision of a fresher Rhode Island and make our current programs possible:

See our annual 990 filing.

Fruit at Broad St market