For Release: August 26, 1999

Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

PROVIDENCE - In celebration of National Farmers' Market Week, and in support of the Rhode Island farming community, the Department of Environmental Management will host special events at the Goddard Memorial State Park Farmers' Market on Friday, August 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

As a special treat, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., two chefs from Johnson and Wales University will demonstrate how to prepare the many vegetables and fruits grown on Rhode Island farms, cook up local favorites, and teach healthy cooking to market-goers, rain or shine. For the children, there will be face painting activities beginning at 9 a.m. More than a dozen local farmers sell their wares at the Goddard market, one of nine farmers' markets throughout Rhode Island supported and publicized by DEM. Locally grown vegetables, fruit, honey, and home-baked goods will be available.

DEM Director Jan Reitsma will tour the Goddard Park Farmers' Market at 10 a.m. Friday and talk with local farmers participating in the weekly market.

US Department of Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman designated August 21 - 28 as National Farmers' Market week in recognition of the importance of farmers' markets and the contributions small farmers make to our lives. The US Department of Agriculture has encouraged expansion of its WIC nutrition program at farmers' markets throughout the nation. Rhode Island farmers' markets already accept the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) farmers' market checks for purchase of farm-fresh, nutritious produce.

"Local farmers are working under difficult conditions this year to provide Rhode Islanders with the fresh, high quality produce they enjoy," Reitsma said. "It is important for us all to support their efforts by choosing locally-grown products whenever possible. An added bonus at our farmers' markets is the opportunity for pregnant women and children in the WIC program to obtain fresh, healthy products to ensure good nutrition."

"The Department of Health is pleased to work with DEM to bring the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program to the residents of Kent County through DEM's Goddard Park Farmers' Market," noted Patricia A. Nolan, M.D., M.P.H., Health Director. "Goddard is the only such farmers' market in the Kent County area and is available to more than 500 WIC participants residing in the area," Dr. Nolan said.

Lee Gardner, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Farm Bureau, said, "The Farm Bureau would like to urge everybody to take advantage of our hot weather produce. At no time of the year do tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant and late-season white sweet corn taste any better. And there are plenty of these delicious end-of-summer Rhode Island treats to take home to can or freeze, too!"

The Goddard Memorial State Park Farmers' Market, open every Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October, is among a number of farmers' markets throughout Rhode Island where locally grown products are sold. The market at Goddard, which opened last summer, is the first to be located in a state park and is seen by DEM as a pilot project in the state parks and beaches system.

DEM's Division of Agriculture and Resource Marketing, which helps farmers with marketing information, offers two free brochures that list the locations of all farmers' markets and roadside stands, along with addresses, hours, days and months of operation, and telephone numbers. To obtain the brochures, call the Division's 24-hour request line at 222-2781 and press 1-4754, or write to the DEM Division of Agriculture and Resource Marketing, 235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908. The brochures are also available on DEM's website, at http://www.dem.state.ri.us/org/agricstf.htm.