06-23-2008

Victory is savory: A surprise win for RI Farmland Preservation!

  • RadishesBitter: Last Thursday we sent out an e-mail alert to 1,800 farm and food loving Rhode Islanders that the state’s farmland preservation program was in danger. It’s the first time we’ve ever sent such an alert, and it was for good reason: one of the few programs RI has in place to ensure a sustainable future for our state’s food supply was about to be shut down. (RI also stood lose millions in federal matching funds every year.) Soon after our e-mail came the news that, without any debate, the RI State Assembly voted 31-37 against allowing a November vote on $5 million for farmland preservation. The decision has been made behind closed doors. (By the way, RI voters overwhelmingly support farmland preservation, by 70% to 30% in the 2004 election. Go figure!)
  • Sweet: Fast forward to Saturday. Your phone calls and e-mails to state senators and representatives helped a last-minute bill pass the Assembly and Senate to allow RI voters to decide on a $2.5 million bond for farmland preservation this November. It won’t cover all of the need, but it makes clear that our farms and our food are a priority even and especially during hard economic times. Your calls reached legislators and gave Rep. Walsh, Rep. Loughlin and Sen. Sosnowski the backing they needed for this surprise and very bi-partisan victory. Thank your senators and reps for voting to support our farms and our food!
  • Very sweet news: We’re already been noticing an upswing in traffic at the markets this year. Last week strawberries, apples, turnips, basil and arugula were in short supply and sold out quickly. It’s happening at both long-running and newly opened markets, like the new Friday farmers’ market in Charlestown. Happily, the summer weather has brought more abundance, though it still helps to get to the market early!Thank you for supporting Rhode Island farmers and choosing food that nourishes our local communities. It’s working – though it would be great if more of the people who make policies and write our laws understood the important connection between our farms and our food, too!

Please support Farm Fresh RI’s strategic work to create infrastructure for a vibrant, lasting local food system, that supports vibrant family farms and healthy communities across RI.