8 Stops to Make During RI Grown Week

Rhode Island grows a lot more than apples, and RI Grown Week is a good excuse to prove it. From October 5-11, farms, markets, orchards, and local makers around the state put everything from cut flowers and vegetables to juice and alpaca goods within easy reach. The idea isn’t to hit every stop. It’s to make one or two everyday purchases a little more local.

This is not one giant festival with a schedule to conquer. DEM’s second annual celebration works better as a choose-your-own-route through what Rhode Island is growing and making right now. The official list is still expanding, but these eight participating businesses offer a solid place to start.

1. Butterfly Farm

Butterfly Farm keeps things practical with seasonal fruit and vegetables, plus annuals and perennials for anyone still making room in the garden. Since the harvest decides what lands on the stand, check the farm’s social pages before heading over. Lincoln

2. Water Way Lavender Farm

Water Way Lavender Farm offers a different kind of local crop, turning lavender into hydrosols, oils, and other farm-made goods. Workshops and distillation demonstrations also give visitors a closer look at what happens between field and finished bottle. Instagram: @water_way_farm 

3. Growing Hope Farm

Growing Hope Farm covers both dinner and the centerpiece with vegetables, cut flowers, and plants. Check the farm’s Facebook page before visiting for the latest on what’s fresh and still blooming. Foster

4. Chaos Farm

Chaos Farm brings alpacas into the mix on October 5 with Parent & Me Farmyard Flow & Snuggles at 11am and chair yoga at 1pm. Alpaca goods are available, too, but the chance to stretch beside a few fuzzy farm residents may be the harder souvenir to top. Lincoln

5. Ocean State Juice

Ocean State Juice brings cold-pressed juices made with local produce to both official DEM farmers markets. Find it at Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick on Friday and Fishermen’s Memorial State Park in Narragansett on Sunday, with a park walk easy to add once the shopping is done. Instagram: @oceanstatejuice

6. Little Compton Flowers

Little Compton Flowers offers one of the season’s last chances to bring home dahlias before colder weather takes over. The farm stand runs from dawn to dusk, with cut flowers available while the season holds. Little Compton

7. Pippin Orchards

Pippin Orchards handles the classic October assignment with weekend pick-your-own apples from 10am-4pm. Cider doughnuts, pies, cider, and local pantry goods make a convincing case for leaving extra room in the bag. Cranston

8. My Tail’s Wagging

Even the dog gets a spot on the RI Grown Week shopping list. My Tail’s Wagging will appear at participating markets with boxed seasonal bandana bundles in small, medium, and large sizes, covering fall through Christmas in one stop. Instagram: @mytailswagging

RI Grown Week works best without an elaborate itinerary. Pick a market, add a farm or orchard nearby, and let what’s in season decide the rest. Visit DEM.RI.gov/RIGrownWeek for the latest participating businesses, market details, and updates.