From LA to Boston, farm to table has taken root. Even the White House is
in on it. Shaped by books such as Michael Pollan's Ominvore's Dilemma
on "why we consume what we consume" and films like Food Inc., many have embraced the mantra and spend dining dollars at farm to table restaurants over other choices. Even Cleveland's in on it, with restaurants such as The Greenhouse Tavern culling national attention.
Despite the climate -- and the state's role in growing produce for the
rest of the country -- here in South Florida, the movement has barely taken hold. Even most farmers markets don't provide local, seasonal produce.
Here's one reason. In today's blog post on Market 17, a commenter writes:
What surprises me is that they're sticking with the same concept.The farm to table gimmick isn't going to fly long term. Paying more for
less food because it's sourced
locally has a limited appeal.
When
I asked several people in my office and elsewhere, they agreed that the
ideal of farm to table isn't worth it.
I'm surprised by that, actually. I thought back to the sweet flesh of heirloom tomatoes in-season, juice smattering down wrist and elbow. I thought of a chef I had worked for who plucked sugar snap peas off the vine so I could taste concentrated sweetness that's lost by the hours. I thought of how prolific the sources are that address the deleterious long and short-term effects of big agriculture.
Will farm to table take root in South Florida? Or do you think it's not worth the price? Sound off in
the comments.
New Times on Facebook | Clean Plate Charlie on Facebook | Melissa on Facebook | Clean Plate Charlie on Twitter | Melissa McCart on Twitter | E-mail Melissa |