The Council’s 2024 network-wide events drew its largest gatherings to date. In April, 100-plus network members gathered at the State House for our first-ever Good Food Policy Day, designed to raise awareness about how state policy can support a just and resilient food system. More than a dozen legislators joined us as we celebrated the fact that all five of RIFPC’s legislative priorities for 2024 were supported by active legislation
Our staff grew to include Isaac Bearg as our program director for food, climate, and environment and Rozie Schleinig, program director for food, business, and economic development.
In September, our annual Policy Retreat left attendees feeling better prepared and inspired to advocate for key issues such as composting, active farmland, surplus food, and urban farming as we approached the 2025 legislative session. We also celebrated our 2024 Food Policy Changemakers—Senator Tiara Mack and Representative Terri Cortvriend—for their dedication to Rhode Island’s environment and food systems.
In November, we drew our largest attendance ever to our annual “Farm Visit With Legislators.” More than a dozen legislators joined staff members from Congressional Delegation offices and state food system leaders at the nonprofit Barrington Farm School. The event, cohosted by district legislators Representative Jennifer Boylan and Senator Pamela Luria, focused on raising awareness of the critical role the food system plays and laying out the Council’s “2025 Good Food Policy Agenda”: support for local composting, surplus food waste donation tax credit, healthy school meals for all, and tax burden relief for urban and small farmers.