LOCAL FOOD COUNTS STUDY
How much do Rhode Islanders spend on local food? The Local Food Count, a study supported by RI Commerce and the New England Food System Planners Partnership reveals that Rhode Islanders spend about $234 millions of 2.7% of total food spend on food grown, raised of harvested in state. This equates to approximately $214 per person annually, highlighting a critical area for growth and investment. This is slightly less than consumer spending on regionally-sourced products at $3.7 billion or 3.1%.
“As we strive to achieve our statewide goals of a more resilient, sustainable and equitable food system, the ability to measure our progress through the new Local Food Count is a game-changer. We are proud to collaborate with the other New England states to leverage shared resources towards a stronger regional food system. This initiative helps us identify local market opportunities for Rhode Island’s food, seafood and agricultural producers while reinforcing our regional food supply to future disruptions”, said Julianne Stelmaszyk, Director of Food Strategy at RI Commerce.
Increasing the amount of food we produce and consume locally is essential to achieving our vision in Rhode Island’s Food Strategy, which is why RI Commerce is proud to be part of the Local Food Count 2022 study, providing valuable insights into local food spending in Rhode Island and the region.
The data highlights significant opportunities for growth in our local food economy. There is a clear potential to increase these figures, particularly in the context of our goal to reach 30% regional food consumption by 2030.
The report outlines areas for improvement and future data collection needs.
What will it take to increase local food consumption?
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Grocery Stores: Promote local and regional products with better signage and labeling.
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Restaurants: Increase the purchase of local ingredients and highlight them on menus.
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Residents: Choose local and regional foods to support our community and economy.
Let's work together to enhance our local food systems and support Rhode Island’s farmers and producers. Explore the full report and get involved with renewing Rhode Island’s food strategy here.
