HOW WE GOT HERE

Building Roots in Providence

Farm Fresh RI has developed a purpose-designed 60,000 sq. ft. facility on the corner of Kinsley Ave and Sims Ave in the Valley neighborhood of Providence. Half of the space was designed to house Farm Fresh RI’s programs and operations, including our wintertime farmers market. Remaining space is leased to food and farm-related small businesses. The site includes a half-acre of publicly accessible greenspace featuring beautiful sustainable, native plantings.

Environmental Stewardship
& Public Greenspace

Our commitment to environmental stewardship began with clearing, excavating, and remediating the 3.2 acre lot and investing in cutting-edge stormwater management to prevent runoff into the nearby Woonasquatucket River. A half-acre is reserved as public greenspace — filled with native plantings including large and small shade trees, shrubs, and groundcover that provide habitat and food sources for local fauna and pollinators. These bio-retention gardens also symbolize the essential role our native plants play in human food production.

Outstanding Smart Growth

In 2021, we were proud to be honored by Grow Smart Rhode Island as an Outstanding Smart Growth Project for our new headquarters, farmers market space, and hub for local food in Providence.

Critical Infrastructure for Our Local & Regional Food System

Recognizing that food and agriculture continue to be among the few growth sectors in Rhode Island and that small businesses are the backbone of the Rhode Island economy, Farm Fresh RI will create an environment that stimulates job creation and small business success. Together with a cluster of food and farm-related businesses, we will work to strengthen the local and regional food system.

Community Impacts

Remediates a Brownfields site and helps jumpstart the revitalization of the Woonasquatucket River corridor
Expands access to fresh, locally grown food by underserved communities
Doubles the buying power of SNAP benefits at farmers markets, reinvesting those federal funds in the local economy
Rebuilds and strengthens the regional food system infrastructure
Promotes farm sustainability and food security
Stimulates business development in the food and agriculture sectors
Provides space for mid-sized production facilities
Creates jobs:
- 284 — Construction and development
- 117 — New and retained at completion
- 168 — Jobs projected at Year Five
Demonstrates smart growth and sustainable development
Incorporates environmental best practices, including 100% on-site stormwater management, rooftop solar array, and a half-acre of green space that is publicly accessible
Leverages significant public and private investments
Reduces food waste from farms
Creates a new food-centric city destination
Promotes the “50 by 60” Food Vision (Food Solutions New England) — a goal for our region to produce 50% of what it consumes by 2060

Opportunities for Growth & Expansion

While our organization, operations, and programs have increased in sophistication and impact, our physical spaces — initially a free basement at Brown University and then an old mill building in a residential neighborhood — have been less than ideal, and held back our organization's efficiency and growth. In 2017, Farm Fresh RI purchased a 3+-acre site in the Valley neighborhood of Providence to establish a facility that would allow consolidation of all programs and operations under one roof, as well as provide opportunities for growth and expansion.

The Farm Fresh design called for multiple access points, well-positioned loading docks, a layout that enhances our aggregation and distribution operations with adequate refrigeration, and good circulation and parking. For the first time, the farmers market space can accommodate a market in a setting designed to enhance the success of farm, seafood, and value-added vendors. The new location, in the heart of a former manufacturing and industrial mecca, takes advantage of existing urban infrastructure while contributing to a 21st century rebirth of this neighborhood. A rooftop solar array is planned; all stormwater is managed on site; and a half-acre is dedicated to an exceptional landscape plan that provides an abundance of publicly accessible green space.

A Wintertime Marketplace

Farm Fresh RI excels at running farmers markets, including the largest indoor farmers market in New England — where 3,000 to 5,000 people buy local goods during a four-hour period every Saturday from November through April. The new space accommodates our renowned Winter Market, providing the infrastructure needed to facilitate such a vital marketplace.

Large retractable doors lining the Market Hall facilitate vibrant indoor-outdoor seasonal markets.

Rental Space for Food & Farm Businesses

In addition to Farm Fresh RI operations, farmers markets and events, the Hub includes space for food and agriculture businesses to lease.

A vibrant center for local food and agriculture
Home to our region's largest indoor farmers market
Competitive rental and amenity package
Four loading docks plus quick-load areas
Easy access to downtown Providence and highways
State-of-the-art heating and cooling systems
Multiple building-entry points and onsite parking
Opportunity for year-round programming
Proximity to the Woonasquatucket River and neighborhood improvements including pedestrian footbridge at Sims Ave, bike paths, walking trails, kayaking, and pocket parks
Opportunity to be part of the Valley Vision — a convergence of local food, design/fabrication, and creative arts businesses

The Site & Construction Progress

The 3.2 acre Farm Fresh RI site is located amidst the Woonasquatucket River Valley corridor, an area of Providence that was an industrial stronghold until the latter half of the 20th century. After years of disinvestment and abandonment, this area of the Valley is now repositioning itself, based on key strategies set forth in the city’s Woonasquatucket Vision Plan. Because of its size, scale, and purpose, Farm Fresh RI is considered a major catalyst in this revitalization effort.

Hub Construction Began in Mid-August 2019

The first task was the removal of the existing slab from former buildings once on the site, and a worn-out asphalt parking lot. All of that material was stockpiled to be crushed and reused later as fill. These photos (looking East) capture the inspiring transformation that unfolded since that start, in a span of just over nine months. In that short time, the Farm Fresh RI project went from a vacant Brownfield site to a model of environmental stewardship.

Construction Updates

We have enjoyed being able to share detailed updates throughout the construction process, beautifully illustrated thanks to our primary photography Scott Lapham Photography.

Visit our News page to see these visual construction updates shared throughout the process.

Thanks to All Our Donors & Funders

In addition to exceptionally generous support from individual philanthropy, we also acknowledge tremendous funding support from these sectors:

Owner/Developer: Farm Fresh Rhode Island

Working day to day to advance the Farm Fresh RI project was a capable and experienced team led by Real Estate & Community Developers Lucie Searle and Clay Rockefeller, and Farm Fresh RI Co-Executive Directors Sheri Griffin and Jesse Rye. Farm Fresh RI Board Members met with our development team on a regular basis, and all staff were provided input on our planning process. Members of the leadership team that contributed to specific aspects of development included Finance Director Paula Gill, former Harvest Kitchen Director Jen Stott, Director of Programs and Operations Thea Upham, Events Rental Manager Leigh Vincola, and Communications Director Rebecca Seggel.