In Our Summer 2019 Issue

Dear Reader,

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to own your own business or create a food product you think could be the next big thing? Maybe you’ve thought about perfecting that favorite family recipe—the one all your friends tell you would sell like hotcakes if you ever bottled it up. But how do you begin, where do you find funding and how do you grow your business? It surely would help to ask someone who has been there, done that.

The seven women on our cover have been answering those questions—and sharing their personal tales of what it’s like to be a woman entrepreneur in the world of food—at a series of honest-talk forums they titled … Bitchin’. More than a clever play on words, and in the best sense of the word, these women truly are a bitchin’ squad of business start-up operators. You will learn how this group of Rhody women made it from pop-ups to opening up brick-and-mortar businesses—and why they’re sharing the lessons of the journey with others who seek to do the same.

Learning from others in the same vocation can be a powerful tool in business development, as we learn from the members of the Young Farmer Network. They’ve organized monthly potlucks at different host farms for younger or newer farmers to talk shop. They’ve devised a set of courses on everything from small engine mechanics to farm accounting, and they’re working with local agencies to address the challenges of land access. And, they’re navigating complex issues around land history and food justice. With the average age of farmers in the U.S. now at 59.4, the future of farming truly does depend on these young farmers.

Farming to spread joy and beauty is the mission of What Cheer Flower Farm. We caught up with the nonprofit to learn how its staff and teams of volunteers are brightening the lives of individuals and families facing difficult life circumstances with free bouquets of beautiful blooms.

It’s finally summertime in Rhode Island and after such a cold and rainy spring (understatement!) we’ve got just the thing to get you grooving in that summer vibe. Check out our ice cream guide for a multitude of heavenly flavors you can enjoy around the state.

While you’re planning your summer escapades, be sure to explore the Rhode Trip, an awesome edible itinerary filled with delicious dining tips, nature walks, Rhode Island history, beach spots and some classic seaside joints to sit back and enjoy a cold brew with a view.

And finally, for this, our 50th issue of Edible Rhody, it is in a spirit of gratitude that publisher John Schenck and I extend our deepest thanks to the hardworking contributors who make Edible Rhody the trusted and beloved journal that it is, and to our advertiser partners, without whom this magazine simply would not exist. We are as grateful as ever to those individuals and businesses, and to our countless dedicated readers, who understand that print matters.