Farm-To-Table

Q:

“Farm-to-Table” is a current food trend.  What should you consider when deciding to purchase “Farm-to-Table” food?

A:

Farm-to-Table is generally regarded as a social movement that promotes serving/consuming locally grown food at restaurants through direct procurement from the producer.  It often incorporates a form of food traceability allowing consumers to know where the food originated.

When thinking about “Farm-to-Table”, here are a couple things to keep mind:

1. All food originates from a farm, a grove, fishery, etc
2. Not all foods can be locally sourced
3. Locally sourced food may be of lesser quality due to limitations in the local growing conditions
4. Finally, a recent Tampa, Florida study found the majority of restaurants promoting “Farm-to-Table” were not actually purchasing locally sourced food

If you want to implement, consider the following options:

1) When dining out:

•         Ask the server or chef about food labeled as “Farm-to-Table”

•         Restaurants charge a premium for “Farm-to-Table” food items.  Does the menu price seem right?

•         Consider the local growing season.  There are fewer “Farm-to-Table” options in winter

2) Better yet, eat at home because it is cheaper, healthier and you can dictate the source.  When dining at home:

•         Shop at locally owned grocery stores, butcher shops, etc

•         Ask the store where the food actually came from and when it was purchased

•         Purchase produce that is in season

•         Limit purchases of processed and packaged food

The following website was used in answering the question:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/04/14/474258801/farm-to-fable-tampa-probe-finds-many-restaurants-lie-about-sourcing