Farm Fresh Rhode Island blog

Each week during the summer months, farmers across Rhode Island put together a selection of whatever is at peak harvest. Hundreds of local families stop by the farms or designated pickup spots for that week’s slice of heaven, with flavors that are seasonally spontaneous and guaranteed to be delicious. The farmers benefit too. Normally, farmers must invest in seeds, equipment and months of labor before receiving even a penny for their harvest. But in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) arrangements, customers pre-pay for the weekly pickups and that helps tremendously.

We surveyed CSA farms to find out which still had spaces available for 2009. We’ll continue to update this list until most CSAs begin (mid-June). Latest update Friday 6/19.

• Big Train Farm Providence
• Cedar Edge Farm Johnston, Richmond
  
• Farmacy Herbs Providence
  
• Four Friends Cranston
• Ledge Ends Produce East Greenwich, Providence
  
• Moonstone Farms Providence, Wakefield
• Moosup River Farm Greene
  
• Rabbit’s Dance Farm Cumberland
• Red Planet Vegetables Providence (SOLD OUT)
• Scratch Farm Providence
• Simmons Farm Middletown, Downtown Providence
• Wishing Stone Farm Barrington, Little Compton, Providence, Tiverton
• Zephyr Farm Providence
  
• Farm Fresh RI also operates a Market Basket program, with weekly pickups at the Armory and Downtown Providence Farmers’ Markets in Providence available in two 10-week sessions: Summer (SOLD OUT) and Fall (Aug-Oct)
• Full list of RI CSAs

There are many CSA variations, some with work days on the farm, some that offer cheese, and seafood and still others that let customers choose from a market-style selection of produce.

The Wintertime/Springtime Farmers’ Market – open May 23 and 30 before transitioning to outdoor summer markets – was the largest number of vendors of any RI market and a record turnout of customers, despite the thick economic gloom. Feeding your family well can be a challenge for those struggling under this economy, but a desire to provide fresh, healthy food for your family knows no boundaries. This year’s Wintertime Farmers’ Market set a Farm Fresh RI record for participation by SNAP (previously Food Stamps) customers: over $4,500 from December 2008 to May 2009. People clearly continue to make good food for their families a priority.

And good food should be accessible to every Rhode Island family. For summer 2009, we are working with our partners to reduce healthy food access barriers:

• Healthy Foods, Healthy Families nutrition education programs will run weekly from July to September at 4 markets in Providence, Pawtucket and Woonsocket. Activities for parents and kids will offer a window into creating affordable, nutritious family meals from the farmers’ market, with support from Blue Cross Blue Shield. This is in addition to “Veggin’ Out” cooking demos we coordinate with Johnson & Wales and “SNAP Ed” cooking demos from the URI Cooperative Extension.
• Fresh Bucks, our program to accept SNAP at farmers’ markets, is being used as a model in conjuction with RI DEM, the RI Foundation, and farmers’ markets across RI. There will be 13 markets where low-income families can shop for fresh food this 2009 season and more are planned for 2010. Customers can also pay for CSAs with SNAP through our Fresh Bucks program.
• Double Value Coupons for SNAP customers. We are working with the Wholesome Wave Foundation to provide more value and greater quantities of nutritious foods, right from the farmers’ markets to those with the greatest need. We are looking to start this program in 2009 or 2010.
• SNAP Outreach at the Markets: Each week, thousands of people come to our various neighborhood markets. We partnered with the URI Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America to offer food stamp applications and information at our markets. Many people don’t realize that they qualify for SNAP or perceive a stigma attached to SNAP, even though it would help them put food on the table during a time of need. These new outreach efforts helped contribute to a 40% rise in SNAP usage since 2006.
• WIC Cash Value Vouchers. These new vouchers will open up more of the federal WIC nutrition program dollars to RI farmers’ markets as a means to increase fresh fruit and vegetable consumption by mothers and infants. Developed in conjunction with the RI Dept of Health and DEM, the vouchers are set for a rollout in October 2009.

Building on years of success with WIC at the farmers’ markets, we began to accept Food Stamps at our markets in 2007. Between summer 2007 and summer 2008, our Food Stamps sales tripled, with over $2,000 in Food Stamps sales at the June to October 2008 outdoor farmers’ markets. (It’s very interesting to see farmers’ market SNAP programs evolve concurrently in other states too.) With more Rhode Islanders aware that you can use Food Stamps at the market and a growing number of RI markets, we hope to again double or triple the amount of fresh foods we make accessible to low-income Rhode Islanders again in summer 2009!

Help us make fresh foods accessible to more Rhode Islanders this summer and for years to come!

Even though the weather can’t decide between spring and summer, it’s decidedly asparagus, scallions and rhubarb season! Fresh herbs like thyme and cilantro are making a reappearance at the Springtime Farmers’ Market and if we’re lucky the juice of Rhode Island strawberries will be dripping down the sides of our mouths by Memorial Day.

With the rebirth of a new season, it’s a perfect weekend to honor the mom in our lives. If you’re cooking up a brunch menu for your Mother, treat her tastebuds to the fresh flavors at the Springtime Farmers’ Market. This Saturday also features a live cooking demo and sampling by Chef Matt from Chez Pascal.

• Pâte à Choux tarts with Onion & Fennel
• Bacon-wrapped Pork meatballs topped with a grating of Divine Providence cheese

Bring Mom along! Also, Little City Growers and Wishing Stone Farm are back at the market this week as their spring harvest gets underway.

Many people are asking what the summer market schedule looks like as we transition to outdoor markets. Take note, Farm Fresh’s two nearby weekend markets have found greener locations for 2009:

• May
  • Springtime Farmers’ Market
    Saturdays from 10am to 1pm at Hope Artiste Village
    indoor + outdoors depending on the spring rain
    the market will start up again in November
• June to October
  • Hope Street Farmers’ Market
    Saturdays from 9:30am to 12:30pm, Lippitt Park
    more room, more seating, more trees, more vendors
    (previously at Hope High School)
  • Slater Mill Farmers’ Market
    Sundays from 12 to 3pm, Downtown Pawtucket
    more room, more seating, more trees, more vendors
    (previously at Broadway & Exchange)
  • Other RI Farmers’ Markets
    there are 40 markets across the state