Wednesday, November 6, 2024

PAWTUCKET HARVEST KICHEN CAFE “TEEN FOOD” IS BACK

FARM FRESH RHODE ISLAND

We are thrilled to announce that we will be re-opening our local food cafe. I appreciate your help in getting the word out over the next few weeks.

Cafe Serving Local Food to Benefit Underserved Teens Reopens June 1

 
Pawtucket, Rhode Island — Farm Fresh Rhode Island is excited to announce the reopening of its Harvest Kitchen Cafe in downtown Pawtucket after nearly a year of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning June 1, the cafe will be open for take-out or in-cafe dining weekdays 10am-3pm, with a new menu packed with options for a variety of dietary needs including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free. The fare includes sandwiches made on house-baked breads, salads featuring freshly made Narragansett Creamery cheeses, New Harvest Coffee Roasters cold brew, from-scratch falafel, house-made vegan carrot bacon, plus house-made soups and sweets that rotate daily. 

More than simply a cafe, Harvest Kitchen supports the local community by providing a welcoming environment with a nutritious menu in an urban neighborhood with limited options for fresh, locally sourced foods. Behind the scenes at the cafe is the Harvest Kitchen processing kitchen and culinary job training program for underserved teens — providing processing for local farms (think apples to applesauce) and hands-on learning in kitchen and life skills as well as internship/job placement assistance upon graduation for teens involved with the RI Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

“The past year has allowed our team to focus more fully on the youth in our culinary training program and the production of our retail items,” explained Sean Kontos, Harvest Kitchen Program Director. “Though our youth work on our retail line year-round for sale via the Market Mobile local food delivery service and at local farmers markets, they can’t wait to learn about the restaurant aspect of Harvest Kitchen by assisting in the cafe.” 

Harvest Kitchen is also available to cater events: lunch, dinner, passed appetizers, and more. Choosing Harvest Kitchen—whether for catering, at the cafe, or at a farmers market—means supporting local farmers and food producers, as well as youth empowerment and involvement in the local food system. 

The crew at Harvest Kitchen is excited to welcome new and returning customers starting June 1. For the protection of its youth program and staff, Harvest Kitchen will continue to require masks for all patrons when not seated at a table. 

About Harvest Kitchen
A program of Farm Fresh RI, Harvest Kitchen is a culinary job training program for youth ages 16–19 involved with the RI Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Trainees work to create a line of value-added products — from pickles to applesauce — using ingredients sourced from local farms, and get hands-on retail experience selling their goods at farmers markets and assisting in the Harvest Kitchen cafe.

2 Bayley St (corner of Main St & Bayley St)
Parking lot entrance on Main Street
Pawtucket, RI
farmfreshri.org/cafe
401-335-3766

About Farm Fresh Rhode Island
Farm Fresh Rhode Island is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2004. The organization’s mission is to grow a local food system that values the environment, health and quality of life of local farmers and eaters. Part incubator, part activator, Farm Fresh offers a wide array of access, education, and distribution programs aimed at building healthier communities, increasing access to fresh food, strengthening community-based businesses, and improving the impact of food production and distribution on the environment. For more information, please visit www.farmfreshri.org

MEDIA CONTACT 
Rebecca Seggel 
Director of Communications 
Farm Fresh Rhode Island
401-312-4250 x104
rebecca@farmfreshri.org