Get Fresh, Buy Local: DEM Announces Start of the 2024 RI Grown Farmer's Market Season

Published on Wednesday, May 01, 2024

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is announcing the start of the weekly 2024 RI Grown Farmer’s Market Season this weekend, running through early autumn. Starting this weekend, consumers can shop the RI Grown Farmers Market at Goddard Memorial State Park, held every Friday from 9 AM – 1 PM, or the RI Grown Farmers Market at Fishermen’s Memorial State Park, held every Sunday from 8:30 AM to 12 PM, for locally grown and fresh food. The hours for Fishermen’s Memorial have changed, so consumers and vendors should plan accordingly. Markets at Goddard Park remain the same as previous years. For the first few weeks, the RI Grown Farmer’s Markets will primarily offer bedding plants, hanging plants, cut flowers, RI Seafood, early vegetable crops, honey, and maple syrup. As traditional local summer crops become available, additional vendors will be attending. Consumers should keep a lookout for the RI Grown label, which certifies that a product was grown right here in the Ocean State. 

“Attending an RI Grown farmer’s market is a great opportunity for consumers to buy fresh, delicious food directly from local farmers and food businesses,” said Governor Dan McKee. “I encourage all Rhode Islanders and visitors alike to support our state’s vibrant agriculture and food sector by enjoying Rhode Island’s abundance of sustainable, colorful, and locally grown produce.”
“Farmer’s markets are critical in supporting healthy food access and resilient local food systems, today and in the long term,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “Each farmers market season, DEM is thrilled to offer consumers opportunities to purchase fresh and delicious RI Grown foods and support local farmers and food businesses at some of our beautiful state park locations.”

Shopping at a local farmer’s market provides consumers with access to delicious fresh food and supports a critical sector of Rhode Island's economy. The state’s food scene is often cited as an area of economic strength ripe for innovation and growth. Already, the local food industry supports 60,000 jobs, and the state’s green industries account for more than 15,000 jobs and contribute $2.5 billion to the economy annually. Farmer’s markets help foster direct relationships between community members and farmers which can work to create a more fair and sustainable food system. The pandemic made it clear that local food systems with short supply chains are resilient and can respond and adapt quickly to change. There are many opportunities for consumers to find RI Grown products year-round, and DEM’s RI Grown webpage is chock-full of resources to help connect consumers with Rhode Island grown products. 

DEM continues to work across many fronts to benefit and strengthen Rhode Island’s green economy and to assist local farmers and fishers in growing their businesses. DEM continues to make investments in critical infrastructure as well as provide farm incubation space to new farmers through its Urban Edge Farm and Snake Den Farm properties. There are more than 1,000 farms sprinkled across the state and Rhode Island is home to a thriving young farmer network. According to the recently published 2022 Census of Agriculture, which is conducted once every five years by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rhode Island has the highest percentage of beginning farmers in the country. Both the number of farms and total land in farms in RI grew from 2017 to 2022 according to the census data, demonstrating the increased support for local agriculture and food throughout the state. Supporting local agriculture benefits all Rhode Islanders, ensures our future food security, enhances our environment, and celebrates the state’s unique food cultures and landscape.

For more information on finding fresh and locally grown foods, follow RI Grown on Instagram @rigrown or Facebook @RIGrown. For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.