Farm Fresh RI blog

Musings about locally grown food in the ocean state

2nd Year of Farmers Market Tours!

This was our 2nd year running free Farmers Market Tours at the Pawtucket Indoor Farmers Market on Wednesday evenings. Between November-January, Farm Fresh welcomed 7 different groups including food service managers, healthcare professionals, local youth groups, and university students for a behind-the-scenes look at the market and Farm Fresh’s other operations within Hope Artiste Village (i.e. Market Mobile and Veggie Box). Many groups enjoyed delicious tastes from the market, offered by rotating cooking demos from URI Snap-Ed, Whole Foods, and our very own Harvest Kitchen Project. Thank you to all of our partners for making these events possible!

The 2013 Farms and Food Job Fair was a great success this past Wednesday, January 30th at the Wintertime Farmers Market*. If you were unable to attend check out the list of farms and organizations below. Each name will have a link to their website where you can reach out to them directly. Also, visit the Land Jobs Stuff Bulletin Board for additional employment opportunities. Blackstone Caterers, Blazing Star Farm, Blue Skys Farm, Buckle Farm, Farm Fresh Rhode Island, Food Recovery Network of Brown University, Metcalf-Franklin Community Farm, Go Local Farmers Market, Great Harvest Bread Co., Greenview Farm, Langwater Farm, Matunuck Oyster Bar and Farm, New Urban Farmers, NOFA RI, Urban Greens Co-op, West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation. Thanks to all who attended! *The Wintertime Farmers Market in Pawtucket will be open every Saturday, 9am-1pm, through May 11th.

The 2013 Farms and Food Job Fair was a great success this past Wednesday, January 30th at the Wintertime Farmers Market*. If you were unable to attend check out the list of farms and organizations below. Each name will have a link to their website where you can reach out to them directly.

Also, visit the Land Jobs Stuff Bulletin Board for additional employment opportunities.

Blackstone Caterers, Blazing Star Farm, Blue Skys Farm, Buckle Farm, Farm Fresh Rhode Island, Food Recovery Network of Brown University, Metcalf-Franklin Community Farm, Go Local Farmers Market, Great Harvest Bread Co., Greenview Farm, Langwater Farm, Matunuck Oyster Bar and Farm, New Urban Farmers, NOFA RI, Urban Greens Co-op, West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation.

Thanks to all who attended!

*The Wintertime Farmers Market in Pawtucket will be open every Saturday, 9am-1pm, through May 11th.

FFRI Position Announcement: Local Food Sales Associate

Background: Farm Fresh Rhode Island is a non-profit organization that, in addition to providing programs and services, operates wholesale and retail food distribution programs.
  • Market Mobile is a transparent wholesale marketplace that aggregates and distributes local food from RI, MA & CT growers and producers to restaurants, corporate kitchens, institutions, neighborhood markets, co-ops, food trucks and other customers.  From 2011 to 2012 Market Mobile sales grew 50% to over $1.5 million. We currently work with over 100 customers in Rhode Island and the greater Boston region.
  • Veggie Box is a weekly subscription of fresh, local produce from RI and MA farms. Veggie Boxes are delivered directly to workplaces, community centers, schools and daycare centers around Rhode Island. The produce for Veggie Box is sourced through Market Mobile, guaranteeing local origin of products and a fair price for farms. The program runs from July through February and at its peak in 2012 was delivering over 800 boxes per week.
As both Market Mobile and Veggie Box have grown, the need for dedicated sales staff has become a necessity. We have big plans for program growth over the next two years and this position will be critical to that success.

Job Function: The Local Food Sales Associate will report to the Managing Director and operate as an essential team member for both the Market Mobile and Veggie Box programs. The primary functions of the Local Food Sales Associate will be to communicate the value & benefits of a local food system and to grow the demand for local food through Market Mobile wholesale distribution and Veggie Box retail sales.

Responsibilities: 
  • Work with Market Mobile & Veggie Box teams to plan strategic growth
  • Strengthen purchasing relationships with existing customers
  • Identify and cultivate relationships with new customers
  • Maintain critical relationships with Veggie Box Site hosts
  • Provide specialized attention to large institutional accounts

Knowledge, Experience and Critical Skills Required:  This position requires an individual that is a highly motivated self-starter, able to thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven work environment.  The ideal candidate will possess working knowledge of the Rhode Island and New England farm & food landscape and understand the potential of social enterprise to change broken systems. This requires flexibility, creative problem solving skills and the ability to think quickly and decisively.  As this candidate will represent Farm Fresh Rhode Island as a main point of contact for wholesale & retail food purchasers, a demonstration of impeccable communication and customer service skills are a necessity. Prior experience in a wholesale or retail food environment is not required. What is required is the willingness to learn new skills and a sincere passion for building a local food system that values the environment, health and quality of life of farmers and eaters.

Hours: Fulltime  
Location: Providence, RI
Compensation: Salary and Benefits - $36,000 with healthcare, professional development opportunities and paid vacation. 

Please email cover letter and resume by Wednesday, February 20th to Farm Fresh RI Managing Director Jesse Rye at jesse@farmfreshri.org.

Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s Hannah Mellion and local fisherwoman Sarah Schumann, generate excitement around the upcoming 9th Annual Local Food Forum on the Rhode Show. For more information and to register, click here.

Art Show Success for Second Year

Last week the annual Youth Art Show went off with a bang as part of the Wintertime Wednesday series at the farmers market.  With over 60 art submissions, 20 children in attendance, and 2 different youth musical acts, the art show bustled with energy and creativity from start to end.  On the night of the event, families gathered in the Greenhouse to participate in various art activities while other folks observed the art exhibited on display.  Youth artists in attendance created edible works of art with our own Farm-to-School Coordinator, Kim Clark; produced masterpieces with potato stamps; and crafted landscapes with vegetable prints. 

Artist and event co-coordinator, Mike Bryce, constructed an innovative wall display to showcase the artwork (pictured below).  The art exhibit will remain on display in the Greenhouse at the farmers market for one more week.  Be sure to visit the market to view the wonderful array of youth artwork! 

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Farm and Foods Job Fair on Wednesday + screening of documentary “Betting the Farm”

If you want to get your hands dirty this spring and summer working on a farm or with food-related organizations, now’s the time to start looking for those jobs and volunteer opportunities! On Wednesday January 30th, from 4-7pm, we will be hosting a Farms and Food Job Fair in conjunction with the Wintertime Farmers Market. The event will take place in the Greenhouse, off of the market, with over 10 farms, non-profits, farmers markets, producers represented. Contact sarah@farmfreshri.org with questions.

Preliminary list of attendees:

Greenview Farm, Blackstone Caterers, Great Harvest Bread Co., Baffoni’s Poultry Farm, Langwater Farm, New Urban Farmers, The Good Earth Organic Gardening Center, NOFA RI, Metcalf-Franklin Farm Community Garden, Urban Greens Food Co-op, Buckle Farm, Blue Skys Farm, Mello Farmstand, Pine View Farm.

Additional printed materials from the following:

Blazing Star Farm (Block Island), GoLocal Farmers Market (Barrington).

Betting the Farm, documentary screening at 7:30pm

The Farms and Food Job Fair will be followed by a screening of Betting the Farm at 7:30pm, in the Greenhouse. Hosted by Whole Foods University Heights.

About the film: “Betting the Farm is a documentary that follows three farmers—Aaron Bell, Vaughn Chase, and Richard Lary—and their families through the tumultuous first two years of MOO Milk. With intimate access to their triumphs and disappointments, the film gives audiences a rare glimpse at the real lives of American farmers at a crossroads.”

The screening will be followed by Q & A with CEO of Maine’s Own Organic Milk, Bill Eldridge, and Executive Director of Rhode Island’s own Rhody Fresh, Jim Hines.

Farms and Food Job Fair on January 30th at the Wintertime Farmers Market in Pawtucket. 4-7pm. This will be the last Wednesday evening market of the season! The Pawtucket Wintertime Market continues on Saturdays through May 11th.

Farms and Food Job Fair on January 30th at the Wintertime Farmers Market in Pawtucket. 4-7pm. This will be the last Wednesday evening market of the season! The Pawtucket Wintertime Market continues on Saturdays through May 11th.

Exciting events this coming Wednesday at the Wintertime Farmers Market! Sustainable Seafood Workshop at 6pm followed by a screening of Red Gold.

Plus, Basement Brewhaus is hosting a Brew your own Cider workshop at 5pm.

1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI. 4-7pm.

Mark your calendars for a community yoga class at Ocean State Bikram Yoga! Partial proceeds from the class that evening will go to Farm Fresh RI. Come support us and get sweaty and fit in 2013. Friday, February 1st @ 4:30pm. 560 Mineral Spring Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.

Mark your calendars for a community yoga class at Ocean State Bikram Yoga! Partial proceeds from the class that evening will go to Farm Fresh RI. Come support us and get sweaty and fit in 2013. Friday, February 1st @ 4:30pm. 560 Mineral Spring Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.