Specifications include, but are not limited to: • Compile comprehensive lists of contacts and food retail spaces in Rhode Island. These lists must include, but are not limited to, large grocers, independent grocers, distributors, institutions, foodservices operators, coops, restaurants, farm to school organizations, food hubs, farms, and food manufacturers. These lists will be organized in line with the data collection efforts of the VT Farm to Plate methodology and in accordance with the supervision of the regional research team. • Review contacts with the Corporation’s project team and contact buyers/suppliers to gather purchasing data on local food sales. • Send data collection forms to a minimum of 75 targeted Rhode Island buyer/supplier contacts within a specified time-period through the following tasks: o Utilizing an existing script for calling and phone work to ask for data, o Emailing and call targeted businesses to ask for data, o Providing minimal (1-hour maximum per contact) technical assistance to businesses providing data, o Compiling data into required formats, o Scrubbing data and removing any double counting that may exist, and o Uploading files to a master folder. • Participate in bi-weekly check-ins with the Corporation (30 minutes) and meet online with other New England state-level research assistants for onboarding, troubleshooting, and periodic updates (up to five, 1-hour meetings). • Follow up with businesses that have not filled in the collection form via phone or a formatted email template that will be provided by the regional research team (see below for clarification). • Maintain documentation of any processes used for the data collection so that the process can be replicated in future years [For ex: Document organizations, trade groups, and resources used to fill in the gaps of the master spreadsheet for use in the future]. • Participate in a 1.5 hour end-of-project debrief meeting to capture lessons learned and recommend changes to the process that can be used in future Local Food Count studies.
