Five Questions With: Rebecca Seggel

REBECCA SEGGEL is communications director for Farm Fresh Rhode Island. / COURTESY REBECCA SEGGEL
REBECCA SEGGEL is communications director for Farm Fresh Rhode Island. / COURTESY REBECCA SEGGEL

Rebecca Seggel is communications director for Farm Fresh Rhode Island, a nonprofit that is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market. The market of 80 vendors, held in a renovated building at Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket, opens for the season on Saturday, Nov. 5. The season will continue through April 29, with the Saturday market being open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (These dates will include Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve day.) Seggel spoke recently with the Providence Business News about the evolution of the winter market.
PBN: Where did the idea of an off-season market originate?
SEGGEL:
Farm Fresh R.I.’s mission is to help local farmers increase their market place, and find new customers. In 2007, we were still trying to do that. It was something that had come up in conversation [among the founders and initial employees,] wouldn’t it be great to provide them with a marketplace that would allow them to thrive?
PBN: Tell us about the location, the space that is provided for the farmers.
SEGGEL:
When it first got started, it was held at AS220 in Providence. It was only there for the first year. It was like, we’re going to see if people come. And almost immediately, after they donated the space, it was clear that yes, they do want to come. The following year, we moved to Hope Artiste Village, in a renovated mill. It’s really a beautiful space. There are two long hallways and more than 80 vendors. You can walk from one end to the other, all indoors.
PBN: How many people attend?
SEGGEL:
Last year’s wintertime market season, saw up to 1,500 people come through our doors every Saturday.
PBN: Are the farmers from across Rhode Island?
SEGGEL:
It’s not just farmers. We also have food trucks. The farmers and vendors are from throughout Rhode Island and also Massachusetts and Connecticut. With the vendors, we have a requirement that a large percentage of their business is [related to products featuring fresh food].
PBN: Now in your 10th year, are any changes being made?
SEGGEL:
The details haven’t been finalized, but on Dec. 10 we are going to have sales and special giveaways to make sure that that becomes a celebration of our 10th year.

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