R.I. tops list of food-friendly states

RHODE ISLAND is the most food-friendly state, according to a ranking of the states by Retale, a Web-based service and app for shoppers. / COURTESY RETALE
RHODE ISLAND is the most food-friendly state, according to a ranking of the states by Retale, a Web-based service and app for shoppers. / COURTESY RETALE

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island is the most food-friendly state, according to a list by Retale, a Web-based service and app for shoppers.
Rhode Island, described on the website as a “food-friendly powerhouse” and a “pint-sized non-island,” was recognized for “top-tier, flavorful foods,” such as stuffies, doughnut cake, Del’s lemonade, coffee milk and Newport Creamery’s Awful Awfuls.
It also said that Rhode Island offers the most restaurants and snack bars per 1 million inhabitants in the country. It also ranked eighth for “best access to food,” meaning people do not have to travel far if they want a certain kind of food, and ninth best for farmer’s markets.
New England dominated the top 10 on the list. Massachusetts was second and noted for seafood such as fish and chips and lobster, as well as baked beans and Boston cream pie.
New Hampshire was third for seafood, local brews and maple syrup.
Vermont was fourth for maple syrup and was noted as the home of ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s.
Connecticut was fifth and recognized for its “New Haven-style pizza” and Election Cake, similar to fruitcake.
New York took sixth place (pasta, cheesecake and buffalo wings), followed by Oregon (hazelnuts), Maine (lobster, wild blueberries and potatoes), Montana (peach pies, cherries and tomatoes) and Washington (seafood and game meats).
Mississippi was ranked the least food-friendly state.
Retale created the ranking by looking at factors such as cases of food-related illnesses, major grocery stores and farmers markets per 100,000 inhabitants, and low accessibility (percentage of residents with no car and no grocery within a mile).

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