The Rhode Island Farm Bureau recently celebrated Food Check-Out Week by sponsoring a food drive to benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Providence. The drive netted more than 400 pounds of food, donated by farmers and ranchers around the Ocean State.

Food Check-Out Week is a national event hosted by the American Farm Bureau in order to demonstrate that despite recent price increases, food in America still costs less compared to other countries. This year’s theme was “Stretching Your Grocery Dollars with Healthy, Nutritious Food.”

“Farmers and ranchers remain committed to producing safe, healthy food for consumers,” said Tyler Young, vice president of the Rhode Island Farm Bureau. “We share with consumers their concerns about putting nutritious meals on the table on a tight budget.”

The local farms that donated food to support the Ronald McDonald House were: Blackbird Farm, Confreda Farms, Hickory Hill Farm, Jaswell’s Farm, Pezza Farm, Pine View Farm, Stone Henge Farm and Young Family Farm. •