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a strong food system supports

RHODE ISLAND'S ECONOMY, CULTURE, & PEOPLE

 

 

 

 

 

 

RHODE ISLAND'S STATE FOOD STRATEGY

 

Relish Rhody is a State-led, interagency strategy to improve the food system in Rhode Island. In addition to State-level leadership, the food strategy is informed by a robust network of community partners across sub-sectors who are engaged in and energized by this effort. Designed to be an action plan, the strategy takes a holistic view of the state’s food system recognizing the ramifications to public health as well as the economic impact, cultural importance, and environmental necessity of a thriving food system.

Learn more about Food Strategy 2.0
Get involved with the RI Food Strategy

 

 

Read the Rhode Island State Food Strategy's 5 Year Retrospective!

Five years into the implementation of the State Food Strategy, Relish Rhody, this report takes inventory of what has been accomplished, where challenges remain, and provides guidance on priorities for the next phase of planning toward a 2030 food vision for Rhode Island.

Missed the announcement? Sign up for the State of RI Food Systems Newsletter. 

Read the Retrospective HERE

Retrospective FRONT

RI Food System Fast Facts

 

Urban Edge Farm
63,000 jobs are food related
$58 million yearly sales in farm products
$5 billion state food sales
$12 billion in food sales a year
$12 billion in economic activity
57,000 acres of farmland
57,000 acres of farmland
46% of RI landed seafood is squid
Squid is 46% of landings
1,043 farms exist in RI
1,043 farms
Fishfolk gather fish
$103.3 million seafood industry
H&M Downtown
20% of state's GDP is food business
30% of RI'ders are food insecure
31% of RI households are food insecure
RI Food In The News
  • Cultivating Success
    Feb 27
    Cultivating success: RI's new farmers help the state buck national trends
    Bucking national and regional trends, the number of farms in Rhode Island and the total area of...
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  • R.I. food industryleaderscall for new tax credit for donating unused food
    Jan 22
    R.I. food industryleaderscall for new tax credit for donating unused food
    In Rhode Island, 38 percent of households with children say they are experiencing food insecurity....
    Read More
  • Food for Thought: Create New England Regional Food System That Addresses Climate Crisis, Feeds Everyone
    Jul 27
    Food for Thought: Create New England Regional Food System That Addresses Climate Crisis, Feeds Every
    Arobust regional food system that would provide much of New England’s sustenance is a must if...
    Read More
  • Sly Fox Den Too Chef Sherry Pocknett Wins James Beard Best Chef: Northeast Award
    Jun 6
    Sly Fox Den Too Chef Sherry Pocknett Wins James Beard Best Chef: Northeast Award
    The Indigenous chef explains the foraged, hunted and fished ingredients that make up her Native...
    Read More

RI Food System Events

Easter Brunch

Celebrating Easter at Celestial Café! Read More ›

Pippin Orchard
Relish Rhody Executive Summary
PYO blueberry farm in Warwick Neck.
RI Estrategia Alimentaria Resumen Ejecutivo
Hope Street Farmers Market
Relish Rhody Food Strategy

What is the RI Food Strategy?

The state's first food plan, Relish Rhody, was launched in 2017 as a State-led strategy to improve the food system in Rhode Island. The Director of Food Strategy at RI Commerce oversees the implementation of the strategy in collaboration with the RI Department of Health and RI Department of Environmental Management.

Contact RI's Director of Food Strategy for any questions.
foodstrategy@commerceri.com

Join the State of RI Food Systems Newsletter
© 2025 Rhode Island Commerce Corporation