Reed Dishes Up $700,000 Earmark to Help Farm Fresh RI Sprout New Partnerships & Grow Small Food Businesses

PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to help more of Rhode Island's small and emerging farms, fishers, and food businesses reach new customers, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), teamed up with Farm Fresh RI to deliver a $700,000 earmark he secured in the FSGG appropriations law to support the continued development of the organization's food hub technology system.

Senator Reed today joined Farm Fresh RI's Executive Director Janet Coit and local growers, producers, and food entrepreneurs, including Mark Federico, Jr. of Narragansett Creamery and Camille Abdel-Nabi of Long Lane Farms, to discuss efforts to strengthen Rhode Island's local food network, feed the community, and support small businesses through the Farm Viability & Business Support Project.

"Farm Fresh RI has a proven track record of sustainably growing our state's local food system. Strengthening that work is critical for helping our new and emerging farmers, fishers, and food producers expand their markets, unlock growth opportunities, and connect more Rhode Islanders with fresh, local, nutritious and delicious food," said Senator Reed. "I am proud to team up with Farm Fresh to deliver this $700,000 federal earmark to boost their capabilities and expand their reach so that they can continue to serve up assistance and guidance for our state's food network."

"For small food businesses to grow and succeed, they need to reach new markets and consistent customers. This important federal investment from Senator Reed will help Farm Fresh RI expand our Market Mobile program, which connects more than 100 local farms and food producers with customers across New England, like schools, restaurants, hospitals, hunger relief agencies, and households," said Janet Coit, Executive Director of Farm Fresh RI. "Thank you to Senator Reed for always recognizing the importance of our local food producers and investing in their future. We're grateful to have you as a partner in building a stronger local food system for Rhode Island."

"This is a great day for local farmers and producers in Rhode Island. On behalf of everyone at Narragansett Creamery, I would like to express our gratitude for Senator Reed and his team for their continued efforts and support for Farm Fresh RI, local agriculture, and food production here in Rhode Island," said Mark Federico, Jr. of Narragansett Creamery. "Today's announcement will lead to the continued success of what Farm Fresh has built over the last 22 years and meet the current challenges and goals to increase the share of local food production. This support not only has a direct impact on local food production, but an indirect, reverberating impact and benefit to all the businesses that help us produce that local food and keep our farms and businesses in operation: electricians, refrigeration technicians, corrugated and packaging suppliers, welders and machinists, milk haulers, and in our case, the small family owned dairy farms that supply us with the raw milk to make cheese and dairy products, and the businesses that support their farms."

Senator Reed's $700,000 federal earmark will help close gaps in funding that Farm Fresh RI has experienced due to cuts by the Trump Administration.

In March of 2025, Rhode Island lost about $3 million in federal funding when the Trump Administration abruptly cancelled the Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools (LFS) programs. Farm Fresh RI, in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and other nonprofit organizations, played a central role in carrying out food purchasing from local farmers and food producers for distribution within the state's hunger relief network through both LFPA and LFS.

Reed's new earmark for Farm Fresh RI will be administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), whose funding is overseen by the Appropriations FSGG Subcommittee.

Senator Reed says it is imperative to act now to help Rhode Island families, farmers, and fishermen who've been hit hard by the Trump Administration's cuts and ill-conceived policies that have sent fuel prices soaring, making everything more expensive and leaving Rhode Island farmers and fishermen with difficult choices whether to continue on or give up and sell their land or boats.

Senator Reed is also working on a bipartisan bill with U.S. Senator Jim Justice (R-WV), the Strengthening Local Food Security Act (S.2338), which would help small, local producers access new markets, strengthen our food supply chain, and provide nutritious, locally grown food to children and those in need.

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