The african alliance of rhode island (AARI) will carry out a 3-year farmers market promotion capacity building project that will improve agency operations and expansion of its farmers markets that…

The African Alliance of Rhode Island (AARI) received a $345,884.75 three-year Project Grant award from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) to carry out a farmers market promotion and capacity building project. The project aims to improve AARI's operations and expand its farmers markets serving low-food access neighborhoods in Providence, Rhode Island. Specifically, AARI will add two new farmers markets, recruit and train five new vendors including honey, flower and herb specialists, and strengthen organizational staffing and management. The project also includes market research to identify optimal new market locations, training on market operations, developing agritourism at AARI's farm featuring seasonal activities and cultural events, and an online sales option. The goal is to better serve consumers and provide opportunities for AARI's existing 15 African refugee women vendors and recruit new, beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to local agriculture.

The african alliance of rhode island (AARI) will carry out a 3-year farmers market promotion capacity building project that will improve agency operations and expansion of its farmers markets that serve low-food access neighborhoods in the city of providence, RI (census tracts 044007000101, 044007002900, and 044007002500). AARI famers markets sell local, organically and sustainably grown specialty ethnic vegetables and value-added products to residents in low-food access areas where few or no other farmers markets operate. Current market vendors are 15 african refugee women who raise crops at AARI farm in johnston, RI. The project will add 2 new markets to AARI's existing markets in low-food access areas, which will expand coverage, serve more consumers and provide additional opportunities for market vendors. The project will work to recruit and train 5 new market vendors, including specialists who produce honey, flowers and herbs. The project will strengthen AARI organizational staffing and management; support market research and analysis to identify the best locations for new markets; provide local farmer/vendors and market managers with training and education on market operations; build up AARI agritourism by introducing a farmer's market onsite at the AARI farm that will feature seasonal agritourism activities and cultural events that will attract residents from other areas of the state; and set up an online sales option to assist consumers who prefer online shopping. The project will actively recruit and train new, beginning, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers seeking opportunities to engage in local agriculture.