PROVIDENCE — It was standing room only at ecoRI News’ inaugural Happy Hour Speaker Series event, “The Dark Side of Local Food,” held May 18 at AS220 on Empire Street.

A panel, moderated by ecoRI News editor Frank Carini, addressed how to bring transparency to local food labeling and how to expand access to local food for low- to moderate-income populations.

The panel consisted of five major stakeholders in Rhode Island’s local food community: Matt Tracy, a farmer at Red Planet Vegetables in Johnston; Ken Ayars, chief of the state’s Division of Agriculture at Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; Lisa Raiola, founder of Hope & Main in Warren; Jesse Rye, co-executive director of Farm Fresh Rhode Island; and Cassie Tharinger, founding board member of Urban Greens Co-op.