Meet the Moment: What are we doing now?
January 13, 2026 (snow date – January 20, 2026)
9 am – 4:30 pm
Parking will be available on the street along Flagg Rd, or in any faculty/staff parking lots on the day of the Summit. Please do not park in marked handicap or URI Service Vehicle designated parking spots without the appropriate permits.
University of Rhode Island, Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences, 120 Flagg Road, Kingston, RI and lunch is included.
Please join us for the 2026 Rhode Island Food System Summit—our first time since the pandemic to gather in person as a statewide community of leaders, innovators, and changemakers. This convening on the URI campus is more than a meeting; it is a powerful act of coming together to “meet the moment” in building a resilient, equitable food future.
Our keynote speaker, Melissa Cherney, CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, embodies the theme as she steps into leadership at one of the state’s most vital institutions, guiding Rhode Island toward a new era of food security and justice.
Two dynamic panels will anchor the Summit:
- Mobilizing for Food Security: Community Solutions in Action: will feature grassroots, nonprofit, and business leaders who are tackling hunger and inequity with creativity and courage.
- Strengthening the Middle of the Local Supply Chain will highlight strategies to connect farmers, fishers, and makers with distributors, institutions, and wholesale buyers to unlock generational wealth and shared prosperity.
Breakout sessions will spotlight projects aligned with Rhode Island’s food strategy, offering participants the chance to learn from innovative initiatives, share ideas, and build new collaborations. These sessions are designed to spark dialogue, strengthen partnerships, and provide momentum for Relish Rhody 2.0.
This year’s Summit is a forum for hope and collective resolve. Together, we will honor the remarkable work of our colleagues, confront generationally novel challenges, and chart a path forward with confidence—knowing that Rhode Island’s food system can and will rise to the moment with unity and purpose.
Special Thanks
This year’s Summit is made possible by the generosity of our Presenting Sponsor, Vicente’s Tropical Supermarket. Thanks to their support, the 2026 Rhode Island Food System Summit will be free to attend for all participants.
At-a-Glance Schedule
- 8:00 AM Registration & Networking Breakfast
- 9:00 AM Welcome & Keynote (Melissa Cherney)
- 9:35 AM Panel 1: Community Food Access
- 10:30 AM Breakout Sessions
- 11:30 AM RI Farm-to-Campus Lunch & Displays
- 1:00 PM Panel 2: Strengthening the Supply Chain
- 2:00 PM Breakout Sessions
- 3:15 PM Closing Remarks & Next Steps
- 4:30 PM Happy Hour at Local Business
Registration is free
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