Using local food can be very rewarding and increase the quality of your dishes. Working with the freshest ingredients can take your restaurant to a whole new level.
Find out when the height of the season is for certain vegetables and commit to using those ingredients in your specials.
Log in here to find farmers in the area and what they are growing. Talk with them before the season even starts so when the harvest comes in, you are their first call.
Highlight in your menu when you do use local ingredients. Consumers want to see where their food comes from. Showing that the ingredients come from the local farm distinguishes your restaurant in their minds.
The expected harvest of a vegetable can be a week early, on time or a week late. It is the nature of agriculture, and when working with local farmers, flexibility and understanding is key. The farmers get just as frustrated as you do with the variability in harvest times.
