Second Aquidneck Food Challenge to launch September 23 – 29 Community food organization ups the ante on eating local

Forget Paleo and Atkins, vegetarian and vegan, and discover what it means to be “Aquidneckian” for seven days this September.

Aquidneck Community Table is again challenging islanders to explore a new diet this fall: seven days of hyper-local eating. Participants have two challenges to choose from: either go “all-in” and eat only food and drink grown or raised on Aquidneck Island or caught in Narragansett Bay, or incorporate at least one item from Aquidneck/Rhode Island in every meal. Yes, for those hard core enough to try the former, this means (temporarily) giving up coffee, chocolate and, oh god, avocados.

If mad enough to join the local food fun registrants will be supported by resources such as recipes, shopping lists, a local food map, priority access to limited local food products at Aquidneck Growers Markets (run by ACT) and much social media exchanging with other Challengers. Last year's Challenge launched a new island product - butter from Middletown’s Simmons Farm - to round out the ingredient list for Challenge week; this year the new Newport Sea Salt Co. offers locally sourced seasoning for those attempting the "all-in" path, and there will certainly be other innovations evolving from this week of food explorations.

Local chef, Mary Weaver, founder of Newport Cooks, and a fan of the Food Challenge, asks students in her cooking classes to create a visually pleasing, delicious dish from a table filled with fresh ingredients, on the last day of every series, to present to a panel of judges "They love the challenge!" she says of her students, and "I think of every dish I make during the AFC as an opportunity to think about food differently."

This year the Challenge is supported by sponsors who understand the importance of healthy food and the value of its production to a thriving local food economy, and by island restaurants that will offer locally sourced dishes during Challenge week. Sponsorships will allow ACT to increase the match for community members currently receiving benefits from the SNAP/EBT program at the farmers markets: during Challenge week SNAP clients will see their Bonus Bucks matched at 100%, rather than the usual 40%, so that more people are able to participate in the Challenge, regardless of financial circumstance. Those brave enough to register for the Challenge are invited to a kick-off party at the new Stoneacre Brasserie in Washington Square. on Thursday, September 21.

Join Aquidneck Community Table in celebrating the abundance of the harvest season and the bounty of our island by participating in the annual Aquidneck Food Challenge. aquidneckcommunitytable.org/food-challenge for registration and more information