RIFPC and Rhode Island Food Climate Action Partnership (FCAP) partners serve the entire state, with a strong focus on communities and populations most at risk of food system inequities (e.g., food insecurity, diet-related disease). FCAP has a special on-the-ground focus on five densely populated municipalities with high percentages of residents living below the poverty line:
Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Middletown, and Newport. A description of each municipality’s demographics and key food system metrics is below.
Providence: 191,000 residents, at least 55,000 food insecure; 21,590 students qualify for free or reduced lunch (76.4%). Providence landfills almost 12,641 tons of food waste annually, costing $797,383 in tipping fees.
Pawtucket: Over 75,000 residents, at least 16,000 food insecure; 6097 students qualify for free or reduced lunch (69.7%). Pawtucket landfills almost 4,320 tons of food waste annually, costing $272,160 in tipping fees.
Central Falls: 22,000 residents, at least 5500 food insecure; 3166 students qualify for free or reduced lunch (88.6%). Central Falls landfills almost 1,022 tons of food waste annually, costing $64,386 in tipping fees.
Middletown: 17,000 residents, at least 1100 food insecure; 606 students qualify for free or reduced lunch (31.2%). Middletown landfills almost 466 tons of food waste annually, costing $29,348 in tipping fees.
Newport: Over 25,000 residents, at least 3000 food insecure; 1090 students qualify for free or reduced lunch (58.8%). Newport landfills almost 953 tons of food waste annually, costing $60,039 in tipping fees.
