Sustainability Home and Abroad

Entrance to Abma's Farm in Wyckoff, New Jersey.

Enrolled in a study abroad program this past fall, I was not able to visit the Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market with the rest of my Sustainability Marketing 421 classmates.  Upon arrival back in the United States, I took a trip over to Abma’s Farm Market and Greenhouse in my hometown Wyckoff, New Jersey to talk with a member of the family owned business about sustainability efforts and their supply chain.  I was also able to experience the famous farmers market in Freiburg, Germany located right outside the Freiburger Münster, a captivating Gothic cathedral located right outside the Black Forest.

Abma’s Farm

Produce inside the market at Abma's Farm in
Wyckoff, New Jersey

            Abma’s Farm is a family run farm that has been open for over eighty years now.  I spoke to one family member named Jim during my visit, who explained how the farm has been passed down for four generations to date.  The thirty acre farm and market provides fresh produce, poultry, eggs, baked goods, and homemade goods that ensure a homey atmosphere for consumers year-round.  While their farm has been operating since the 1790s, the family has managed to preserve the buildings and Dutch-style barn in their original state.  The preservation of these buildings and barn create an atmosphere that makes you want to hangout and explore Abma’s Farm and market all day.  While talking with Jim, I learned that the farm receives products from other areas of the United States.  During the cold months that come with living in New Jersey, produce is brought in from California farms.  While warm, the farmers at Abma’s plant small amounts of product each week so that crops can be picked on a daily basis.  Doing this provides consumers with a fresh product packed with nutrients.  Abma’s also provides high quality, fresh poultry and eggs by raising free-range chickens.  While talking to Jim, I found out that most of the meat sold in the market came from a facility down the street, located in Hawthorne, New Jersey.  The workers at Abma’s stressed buying local, in-season food because it is healthy, smart, and sensible.  When discussing sustainable practices being used at Abma’s, Jim mentioned that they do not use pesticides while growing fresh produce on their farms.

 Fun Fact: The farm owns 600 Rhode Island reds and 1,400 Leghorn chickens who provide high quality, all natural fresh eggs every morning with Omega 3’s.

Freiburg Farmer’s Market

            Walking through the Freiburg Farmer’s Market was a great experience for me as it was the first thing I saw upon arrival in Germany.  There were many different stands set up by different farmers where products ranged from produce and meats to wine and bratwursts.  Though my limited German language skills prevented me from having in depth conversations with German farmers about their sustainability practices and their supply chain, I did learn much about environmental sustainability in one of my courses on European Union Environmental Policy.  Freiburg is actually one of the global leaders in sustainability practices among cities in the world.  In relation to agriculture, Freiburg implemented a pesticide ban, ensuring that all farmer’s operate in an environmentally sustainable manner.  Another major policy in the European Union involves Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).  Unlike the United States, Europe operates using the precautionary principle, a term which basically means guilty until proven innocent.  Though GMOs are not scientifically proven to cause people harm, Europe recognizes the potential dangers, outlawing the production of GMO products within its borders.

Fun Fact: Freiburg is a city located in Germany that is viewed as a global leader in sustainability practices.

Fun Fact: Freiburg created its own Environmental Protection Agency in 1986.  Their globally recognized environmental efforts include a ban on pesticides, creation of waste management systems (color coded), creation of a smog and o-zone warning system, and creation of an environmentally friendly public transportation system.

Citizens of Freiburg, Germany enjoying the farmer's market near the Münster on a nice, warm Summer afternoon.

Please make sure to read about the experiences of the rest of my classmates and I on our blog as we travel to Costa Rica and reflect on our experiences afterwards,

You can follow our Twitter page here @BryantMKT421 as well as my own personal Twitter account @RonBURRgandy.

Ronald Wagner

Sustainability: Coffee and Produce

If you haven't had the chance to visit the Pawtucket/ Wintertime Farmers Market, I highly encourage you to check it out! It's filled with vendors dedicated to providing their communities with the highest quality and freshest products while remaining committed to sustainable practices.

New Harvest Coffee Roasters

Some of the best coffee in RI can be found right at the Pawtucket Farmer’s Market. New Harvest Coffee Roasters is dedicated to providing the highest quality coffee while practicing sustainable efforts. The entire coffee process from growing to harvesting to processing and roasting and ultimately brewing is acutely monitored with passion. What I found unique about New Harvest is their Source Direct program. They traveled to farms in Central and South America to connect directly with small farms producing coffee with greener efforts. This not only ensures a strong lasting relationship with farmers but also supports farmers taking good care of their land and paying their workers well. The strong relationship also ensures the highest quality for New Harvest’s expectations while benefitting coffee-growing communities at large.

Overall I learned there’s nothing easy about great coffee but New Harvest strives to provide the best and really takes each stage of the process a step further. If you can’t make it to the Farmer’s Market to try their coffee stop by their home Hope Artiste Village or look for their coffee supplied in cafés, restaurants, bakeries, groceries and households in all 50 states.

Freedom Food Farm

Freedom Food Farm was one of the many local farms at the market. Their mission is to provide healthy, nutritious food to members of the community throughout the socioeconomic spectrum. All of their produce, eggs, pork, and chickens are grown and raised with exclusively organic and biodynamic principles; their efforts are to mock a natural ecological cycle. All their hard work is just to provide healthy food for the community while reducing their foot print! I loved how they go beyond certified organic allowances. Even if it’s allowed they vow to never spray chemicals or pesticides on their fields and crops. They have endless practices with the compost and animal rotation to have the entire farm working as a natural ecosystem. Freedom Food Farm is a prime example of farming sustainable not just to provide healthy safe food to the community but to also preserve the farmland for future generation.

Freedom Food Farm was very knowledgeable about where they grow and raise their food and how it’s treated to arrive at the end results. I encourage you to buy local and direct from farmers with attempts to enhance food production overall, it will create a healthier world and a healthier you!

Learn more about sustainable practices as we head to Costa Rica! You can also follow us on Twitter! @BryantMKT421

-Krysia Syska

Buy Local!

The Pawtucket Winter Farmers Market was such a wonderful experience. I love going to farmers markets in the summer, but I had never been to an indoor farmers market. There was so much to take in at the Pawtucket Winter Farmers Market. The location (Hope Artiste Village) was great, the winding hallways and open spaces gave each vendor a unique setting. I loved the exposed brick, bright lights and the surrounding fresh and organic produce!

It is so important to buy local and to support the local economy. There were many vendors with varying products however they were all local and many supplied organic products. I found Langwater and Allen Farms to be outstanding family run vendors at the market.


Langwater Farm is a family run business located in North Easton, MA. The farm is USDA certified organic.the farm specializes in a diverse mix of Certified Organic vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, berries and pumpkins. They practice organic growing methods as well.

The family run farm has background in small-scale sustainable agriculture. The farmers are a passionate and energized crew. The farm provides healthy and delicious products to its local community. After speaking to those at Langwater Farm, I spoke with Tom from Allen Farms.

Meet Tom! Tom is from Allen Farms in Westport, MA. Allen Farms is a family operated farm that provides certified organic herbs, greens, vegetables and flowers since 1897.The farm utilizes seven greenhouses year round providing fresh and organics produce for the local areas. Allen Farms strives to be healthy and organic, providing great products to their local consumers. As a family owned and operated farm, Allen Farm's encourages sustainability and promotes health with their organic and wholesome products. Tom's mother, Debbie, is the owner of the farm. He was very helpful and enthusiastic about sharing information with me about his family's farm and what makes them unique. They had wonderful and fresh veggies!

  Highlight of the Day:  

Bridgette, Ethan, Krysia and I took Wheatgrass shots! Wheatgrass is full of nutrients and great for your body. I was a little nervous to try it...but it tasted much better than I originally thought it would and was a fun experience. I'm looking forward to the many new drinks and food we try in Costa Rica!

Thanks so much for reading,
Emily McLaughlin

Follow my adventures as I travel to Costa Rica to discover sustainable practices on twitter! @EmMcLaughlin
See what our class is up to as well @BryantMKT421 on twitter! 

Sustainability in Providence

I have been to many local farmers markets before but I have never seen one with such a variety of products as I saw at the . I spoke with many local vendors and had the opportunity to try samples of fresh and local Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market products, such as the garlic dill pickles from Fox Point Pickles which were delicious! We also spent time with 20-year-old CEO Ava Anderson who educated us toxic chemicals that can be found in products we use everyday and introduced us to her brand of Ava Anderson Nontoxic personal care products. I spent some time with vendors from Narragansett Creamery and North Bakery learning about their products and how they are sustainable. While Narragansett Creamery and North Bakery may seem very different to a farmers market patron who sees their products, the two companies have more in common than meets the eye. In addition to both being located in Providence, both companies are committed to sustainability and put a large emphasis on buying local ingredients whenever possible while using very few ingredients in order to create fresh products for the consumer. They both sell products that are relatively inexpensive (under $10) and offer a variety of different types of products within their specialty market.

Narragansett Creamery

This Providence-based creamery began in 2007 and has grown to sell a variety of fresh products including yogurt, hard cheeses, and mozzarella. The cheese is sold in 8 ounce blocks and prices range from $5 to $8. While they sell primarily at farmers markets in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, their products can also be found in stores like Dave's Marketplace, Shaw's, and Whole Foods in RI and MA as well as Connecticut and New York. The cheese is made with very minimal ingredients, all of which are local and fresh, and are committed to avoiding growth hormones in their products. The variety of cheeses they are able to produce with such few ingredients was very surprising to me. They even had a few types of cheese of which I had never heard! I was able to sample the Salty Sea Feta as well as the fresh mozzarella. Both of them were so fresh and delicious; they practically melted in my mouth! Check them out online to find your closest retail location or farmers market!

North Bakery

Located in West Providence at 70 Battery Street North Bakery is a bakery and coffee shop unlike most others in the area. The coffee is the brand Counter Culture, which is based out of North Carolina, whose core values of sustainability and transparency can be seen through their compostable retail bags and carbon neutrality. Kelly, the manager of North Bakery with whom I spoke, told me all about the different initiatives North Bakery takes to be sustainable. All products are made from scratch, produce is fresh, and ingredients are purchased from local vendors. At the farmers markets they sold a variety of baked goods, from cookies to miniature chocolate cakes, all for less than $6 each. In addition to their coffee shop storefront and selling at local farmers markets, they also have a restaurant. Through this restaurant they have formed relationships with local farms and fishermen to constantly provide their customers with fresh and local ingredients. 

Fun Facts

- North Bakery buys their eggs from Baffoni's Poultry Farm, another Pawtucket Winter Farmers Market vendor.

- North Bakery serves a local ginger beer!

Kasey Mazza (@KaseyMazza)

Be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on Twitter @BryantMKT421 to stay up date as we travel to Costa Rica over the next week!

Farmer Market Vendors

Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market located in the Hope Artiste Village (1005 Main St., Pawtucket, RI) was the first farmer’s market that I have been into that was located indoors.  Hope Artiste Village is a very cute mill that has a creative mix of art studios, café, and some retail shops.  While looking at different vendors I decided to walk into one of the art studio; One Way Gallery Hope is a doing a solo opening reception on “No Rest For The Wicked” by the artist Reason.  So if you have the chance, you should definitely check out his artworks because it is amazing! 

Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market is a good place to go with your friends and family to either browse or shop because they have so much variety to choose from.  The two vendors that I cam across was Eva Ruths and Jack's Snacks.

Eva Ruths

Eva Ruths is a bakery that is located in Middletown RI and they are known for their wheat free and gluten free products.  This bakery caught my attention because I used to work at a gluten free bakery in New York.  The owner Christian and I started talking about the gluten free products and I got to try one of their gluten free raspberry muffins and it was delicious!

Eva Ruths is sustainable because not only do they go to different farmers markets and own a bakery.  But they also retail to many supermarkets, which is located here if you ever want to purchase their baked goods.  The products usually range from $4.00-$12.00, which is very reasonable for specialty goods.  All the products are handmade year round and all the essential products for the food is purchased at Restaurant Depot, which is a wholesale store for restaurant owners who needs to purchase products in larger quantities. 

Jack's Snacks

Jack’s Snacks is another vendor located in Warwick, RI.  I was browsing for some dog treats for my dog Vince and we both realized that we both own rescued pit mix.  Some people believe that pit bulls are a vicious breed; so meeting another owner who rescued this loving breed makes me happy and I knew I had to buy some of the biscuits for my dog.  I ended up buying the garlic chicken flavor biscuits for my dog and as you can see in the photo Vince is the happiest dog on the planet!   

Not only do they sell dog snacks, but they also collaborate with vendors from the New England area and sell some of their dog accessories.  If you like to spoil your dog with handmade biscuits, you should definitely check out Jack’s Snacks!The prices range from .75 cents-$21.00 depending on what you purchase.

Fun Fact:

• She would have not started her business if it were not for her loving dog Jack!
• Jack had a big influence on the different flavors of biscuits
• All of the biscuits that are out of season (holiday theme snacks) and also the biscuits that are about to expire go to the local Animal Shelter.
•  They now create birthday cakes for do

      These two companies sell similar products, but target to different customers. Both companies sell freshly baked goods and sell it around the Rhode Island area.  Not only that, but they support other New England businesses by selling other company products or just by having their products in other local stores.  You guys should definitely check out these stores because their products are amazing.

-Ellissa Cho

Follow us on Twitter at @BryantMKT421

a

Handmade & Pure

I’ve been to many farmers market but never one that was inside. The PawtucketWintertime Farmers' Market located at Hope Artiste Village (1005 Main St., Pawtucket, RI) was a very pleasant trip.

An early Saturday morning for a college student but an enjoyable experience. The market was situated inside an industrial brick looking building and vendors were organized by two long hallways. Each hallway, one yellow and the other green, contains a vast variety of vendors, an info table, exterior doors that leads to local food trucks, and these cute little tomato directional signs.  

As I strolled down the corridor, all I smelled was crisped greens and raw vegetables. Then I spotted candles. Being a big enthusiast on candles, they immediately grabbed my attention. The vendor that caught my interest was the Silk Tree Farm table. The table displayed an assorted range of homemade and natural products that were very neatly displayed.

Silk Tree Farm is a small farm located in Compton, Rhode Island that specializes in preserving heritage breed livestock. Along with providing exceptional nurture and care for animals, owners Cathy and Tom also produce handcrafted soaps, body washes, and soy candles. Many of their products include fresh and pure goat milk from their own Nigerian dwarf goats. Silk Tree Farm prides themselves in sustainability, preservation, and heritage foods. One of their most popular product lines is there goat milk soaps and body washes. Beginning with milking the goat and ending with a beautiful handmade bar of soap, everything is done on the farm, by hand, and using only natural essential oils.

Making my way through the green hallway I was enticed by free samples from a pickle vendor. I tasted a spicy dill pickle from Fox Point Pickling Company. The pickle was amazing.  It began as a regular pickle, but the spices brought it to life. What I loved most was that the flavor didn't immediately go away, the pepper blend sat on your tongue so you could relish the flavors. 

Fox Point Pickling Company specializes in handmade pickles. Fox Point uses fresh produce and a unique spice blend to turn regular cucumbers into delicious pickles. While owner Zared (aka Ziggy), doesn't grow his own cucumbers, he uses only garden fresh produce from local Rhode Island Farms. After attaining the cucumbers, he pickles them in his unique process using his exclusive spice mixtures.

Fun Fact: Ziggy has created jar openers in the shape of a jar that are re-purposed from tires.

Very different in products but similar in practice. These two companies are committed to using only the freshest ingredients in their products and living within their resources.  They both offer great products, at great prices, and empower the ideals of using only what is needed. If you don’t believe me, go check them out for yourself. 

~Talia Alexander

Follow us on twitter @BryantMKT421

Silk Tree Farm http://www.silktreefarm.com/

Fox Point Pickling Company http://www.foxpointpickles.com/