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State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

RI Grown Week Kickoff Celebrates Nearly $16M in Funding for Local Agriculture and Food Producers

Published on Monday, October 05, 2026

PROVIDENCE, RI – Today the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) celebrated nearly $16M in funding to support local food and agriculture at Farm Fresh Rhode Island (FFRI) in Providence, kicking off RI Grown Week. Congressional, state, and legislative leaders, along with local farmers, food producers, and food organizations gathered to highlight the importance of local agriculture and investing in the state’s food security. Rhode Island is home to a vibrant farming sector and food scene that are central part of our identity and economy.

“Local farmers play an important role in Rhode Island’s economy, but climate-driven extreme weather is increasingly causing problems for harvests and livestock,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. “Glad to have helped deliver this federal funding to support the work of Rhode Island farmers, to get more healthy, locally-grown food into the community and unlock relief for weather-related disasters.”

“Investing in local agriculture benefits all Rhode Islanders by supporting access to healthy food while strengthening our state’s food security and economy,” said Governor Dan McKee. “RI Grown Week, celebrates our continued support for the local farmers, fishers, and producers who provide our state with RI Grown produce and products.”

DEM Chief of Agriculture and Forest Environment Ananda Fraser Ramirez announced over $145K in Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) grant awards to help RI farmers expand market access for local fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. 2026 SCBGP recipients include:

  • University of Rhode Island (URI), Kingston: $63,417.26 for a project to develop best management for utilizing biochar to build soil health and improve yields of RI Grown specialty crops, particularly vegetables. Recommendations will be based on the results of laboratory, greenhouse and field experiments.
     

  • Farming Turtles, Inc., Exeter: $44,108 for a project to increase food safety knowledge, compliance, and third-party audit readiness among RI specialty crop growers with a focus on controlled-environment agriculture such as greenhouses, microgreens, baby greens, and indoor growing systems.

     

  • FFRI, Providence: $37,703.04 for a project in partnership with educators to co-develop a flexible, publicly available model that implements RI Grown campaign materials through farm to school activities in RI schools.

DEM also announced $500K in Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) grants up to $20K for farmers, individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations that strengthen RI’s local food system, prioritizing second-generation farmers and succession planning. New this year, LASA funding includes $50,000 from the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4) to support RI’s first dedicated state funding for regenerative agriculture. Applications open Oct. 15 and are due Dec. 4. For more information and funding priorities, visit www.dem.ri.gov/lasa.

Applications are now open for nearly $15M in disaster relief assistance announced last month for eligible RI farmers and agricultural producers affected by weather events in 2023 and 2024. DEM’s Rhode Island Disaster Relief Program (RIDRP) will distribute $14,944,632.43 from the USDA Farm Service Agency under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025, to help cover agricultural losses that were not covered by other USDA disaster programs. The first round of applications opened today and are due by Wednesday, Dec. 30. The second round of applications is expected to open in late February 2027. For RIDRP eligibility, assistance, and application information, please visit https://dem.ri.gov/ri-disaster-relief. Potential applicants can submit questions to DEM via this form.

As part of the day’s events, local farmers and food producers connected with agricultural professionals, taking part in workshops about produce safety, land planning, grant applications, and marketing along with breakout sessions for the animal agriculture, produce, floriculture, fiber, and food organization sectors.

There’s still time for farms, markets, and retailers to sign up to participate in RI Grown Week – showcase your RI Grown products, connect with customers, and receive a toolkit to help promote your business during the week. Simply fill out the free participation form, spread the word, and we’ll do the rest!

Local is closer than you think – follow RI Grown on Facebook, on Instagram, and subscribe to our newsletter to find locally caught, grown, and made foods from RI farmers, fishers, and food producers. For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter/X (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates. Sign up here to receive the latest press releases, news, and events from DEM's Public Affairs Office to your inbox. 

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