Rhode Island Feeds

RIFoodBank: Hearing great feedback on our Witnesses to Hunger @HungryWitnesses event last night! We're you there? What'd you think?

A new study shows the danger of pesticides in our kids food:

“Exposure to pesticides used on common kid-friendly foods — including frozen blueberries, fresh strawberries and celery — appears to boost the chances that children will be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, new research shows.” (MSNBC)

This kind of news grants fresh urgency to the school garden movement. SCLT’s after-school education programs, and other similar programs established or starting across America, empower kids about food through teaching them a lifelong skill – organic food growing practices.

Help your kids: buy (or grow!) organic foods to keep them safe!

The Springtime Farmers Market in Pawtucket is lively with young greens, herbs, cheese, bread, eggs and meats. With only two weeks to go – Saturdays 11-2 through the end of May – naturally our thoughts are turning to summer.

On farms all around Rhode Island, farmers are busy laying the groundwork for a delicious summer. Asparagus is springing up and peas that were directly seeded in the ground are weaving along trellises. Kale and lettuce seedlings are making the journey from greenhouses to the field. Basil and tomato seedlings will wait inside for a bit longer. We’ve been extraordinarily lucky to escape frosts so far this May, but it’s still a little cool for their liking.

While farmers having been busy planting food, we’ve been busy planting EBT machines at more farmers market across RI. With more than 1 out of every 8 Americans relying on SNAP to feed their families in this tough economy, we’re thrilled that SNAP customers can now shop for fresh, healthy foods at 18 markets across the Ocean States. When SNAP dollars get spent at local farmers markets, it’s a big win for both farmers and eaters.

Thanks to our partnership with Wholesome Wave and your generous donations, Farm Fresh RI will continue doubling SNAP up to $5 Bonus Bucks per day at our markets in Providence, Pawtucket and Woonsocket this summer.

Some RI summer markets open in May, but we wait for the weather and harvest to ripen a bit more. Here are the Farm Fresh RI markets that will be popping up in Providence in June and beyond:

• Armory – Thursday 6/3
  welcome to new vendors: Farmacy Herbs, Mixed Grille Catering, Nonquit Salad Farm
• Downtown – Friday 6/4
  welcome to new vendors: Absalona Greenhouse, Blue State Coffee, Stirring Spoon, Virginia & Spanish Peanut Co.
• Hope St. / Lippitt Park – Saturday 6/5
  welcome to new vendors: Aquidneck Farms, Cupcakerie, Harmony Hill Farm, Olga’s Cup & Saucer, Purple Pear, Xiong Farm
• Coming in July: Broad St., Pawtucket / Slater Mill, Woonsocket
• Coming in September: Brown

Our 2010 RI Farmers Market bookmarks are arriving from the printer this week. Pictured above, we have 4 editions this year: Northern RI; West Bay + South County; East Bay + Aquidneck + Sakonnet; and the Providence area (English and Spanish). They’re good for your wallet or the fridge and are an easy way to keep track of farmers markets in your area throughout the summer. Find the bookmarks at farmers markets, restaurants that buy local, visitor centers and other community spots.

There’s also still time to sign up for a CSA, a weekly subscription to a farm’s veggies. Try it out!

ediblerhody: Big Food Pledge Placates White House. Who Needs Policy When You’ve Got Promises? http://ow.ly/1NcJe @civileater

RIFoodBank: Tickets available @ door for Witnesses to Hunger Opening tonight 5:30 p.m. Peerless Lofts Atrium, 150 Union Street, Prov. $50 per ticket.

RIFoodBank: @iheartrhody Thanks for the RT - it'll be a great day for families!

A note from Rich: Thanks to all the people who came out to support SCLT’s 18th Annual Plant Sale. It was a great weekend. I hope your City Farm plants thrive this growing season.

All photos courtesy of Jori Ketten

RIFoodBank: Ever wonder what goes on at the Food Bank? Come find out at our Community Open House on Saturday 930a-1230p http://bit.ly/WJxjC 4 more info

RIFoodBank: @safoodbank Thank you!

ediblerhody: RT @civileater: Big Food Pledges to Cut 1.5 Trillion Calories http://bit.ly/crONNL by @hbottemiller for @foodsafetynews

ediblerhody: Meatless Mondays, a movement that has legs (It's enough to make meat industry nervous). http://ow.ly/1MICC @jane_black

ediblerhody: Might as well say it straight up: Kids don’t like vegetables. http://ow.ly/1MFM6 @theslowcook

ediblerhody: Fred Kirschenmann bats lead off for Edible Institute video. @tomphilpott @jane_black @fromartz @poormansfeast @bamco http://ow.ly/1MD0G

RIFoodBank: Tickets are still available for our Witnesses to Hunger (@hungrywitnesses) event tomorrow - http://rifoodbank.org for more info

ediblerhody: @TheFarmerJane on @EdibleRadio: Temra Costa talks about her new book: Farmer Jane: Women Changing the Way We Eat http://ow.ly/1MohT

ediblerhody: @TheFarmerJane on @EdibleRadio: Temra Costa talks about her new book: Farmer Jane: Women Changing the Way We Eat http://ow.ly/1Mohe

ediblerhody: List your farmer's market in the USDA census! http://ow.ly/1MeZH Important resource for policy makers! Deadline 6/4 @obamafoodorama

ediblerhody: Did Gourmet's 900K readers just vanish? (No, they're reading Edibles!) Where did ad $ go? http://ow.ly/1MeT2

ediblerhody: Not so fast: 5 Questions Monsanto Needs to Answer about its Seed Donation to Haiti http://ow.ly/1M8dG @civileater

ediblerhody: Websites described as food: Google - the automat of Babel. Twitter - box of crackerjacks w/o a prize. http://ow.ly/1M7ep