1As the first Rhode Island “food chief,” what do you hope to accomplish?
My primary objective is to work with partners to develop the state’s first comprehensive food plan. Myriad organizations are doing amazing work in the local food sector, and through this plan, we hope to align these efforts and accelerate growth of this already vibrant node of our economy.
2Why does the state need this position?
There are important initiatives underway across the state that touch on food. … The next evolution is to coordinate the various efforts, identify and remove barriers to growth and maximize opportunities; to accomplish this, you need a “conductor” – someone thinking about all aspects of the food system in Rhode Island every day and creating synergy.
3Why should Rhode Island have a more robust local food system?
Local food is part of our identity as a state – from our farmers markets to our famous seafood and world-class restaurants. Rhode Island has long been focused on developing a local food culture and ecosystem and has increasingly recognized the importance of food to our economy, culture and health; rates of obesity and food insecurity remain significant concerns. A more robust system – aligned under a comprehensive strategy that is focused on resilience, sustainability and equity – presents an opportunity for us to build on our strength, put people back to work and address chronic disease.
4What is a statewide food plan, and why is it important?
Food-system work involves many partners across different levels of government, industry, academia and community. Over the past 10 years, our food economy has steadily grown. The food plan is the logical and needed next step to keep this momentum going and coordinate efforts; through it, we will craft a vision that explores opportunities to increase food-system investments in the state, improves government processes and addresses food-equity issues.
5What level of engagement should the business community expect to have with you?
The business community represents an important voice in our efforts to develop a food plan. I look forward to working closely with all partners in this effort, and I’m anxious to hear about the many things businesses and Rhode Islanders are accomplishing in the local food space – as well as the areas they see for improvement and increased coordination. •
