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The foods are not shipped or aged, so fruits aren't picked before they are riped, and lack nutritional value aged fruits do. They also allow people to know exactly what foods they are eating and prevent people from eating processed and unhealthy foods.

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Farm to Table at Hearthstone

The farm-to-table movement's drive to bring locally grown foods to restaurants, stores, and homes means many positive benefits for consumers - in other words, you. Locally sourced food is fresh and delicious, plus you're supporting your local farmers by purchasing it. But have you ever thought about the benefits of dining at farm-to-table restaurants? Here are 10 reasons why you can feel great about choosing to dine at a farm to table restaurant like Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar .

Fresh Flavors

Restaurants that source their ingredients from local farms and gardens can take advantage of the fresh flavors that these ingredients offer. Rather than needing to preserve, freeze, or otherwise extend the useful life of these ingredients, your dish will taste fresh because it truly is fresh.

Only Natural Ingredients

Because fresh ingredients require no preservatives, you can enjoy your meal knowing just what's in it - natural ingredients. You'll have the peace of mind knowing that you and your family are eating quality, natural foods even though you haven't done the preparation and cooking, yourself.

Improved Nutrition

Another benefit of the fact that local foods aren't shipped, stored, and aged? They're more nutritious. In order to keep shipped foods from going bad, foods such as fruits are often picked before they've ripened. However, these foods often lack the nutrition that foods allowed to fully ripen and mature can provide us.

Environmental Benefits

When you dine out at a farm-to-table restaurant, you're helping the environment, too. Because local food is transported just small distances, less fuel is consumed and less emissions are released in the process of getting the ingredients to the restaurant.

Economy Benefits

When you support a restaurant with a farm-to-table business model, you're not just supporting that one local restaurant - you're supporting many other local businesses . The farmers, bakers, artists, and others who have created or grown the ingredients of your dish will all benefit from your restaurant choice. Your money goes to support your state, rather than supporting other states where the ingredients have been sourced from.

Role Model Opportunities

Want to educate your kids on sustainability, the importance of the local economy, and the benefits of fresh foods? Visiting a farm-to-table restaurant is a great way to do it. Talk with your kids about how the farm-to-table model works, and explain why supporting farm-to-table dining is so important. Kids often learn better by experiencing something firsthand, so a fun dinner out can also become a meaningful experience for the whole family.

Know Where Your Food Came From

Thanks to farm-to-table, you'll know where your food came from. Many farm-to-table restaurants are able to tell you the specific farms that supply their ingredients, so you can understand which farms you're supporting.

Plenty of Food Choices

One of the great benefits of farm-to-table restaurants is that they can access a wide range of ingredients that are in season. From fruits and vegetables to meats, cheeses, and more, there are countless foods that restaurants can source from local farms. In many cases, your entire meal may be locally grown, meaning it's fresh, nutritious, and supporting multiple local businesses.

Naturally Changing Menus

Tired of choosing from the same dishes whenever you head to your favorite restaurant? If the restaurant is a farm-to-table restaurant, then the menu will evolve naturally, giving you plenty of new and fresh choices. Because the restaurant must source only ingredients that are in-season, they'll adjust their menu selections to reflect that. This means seasonal dishes that will come and go, and plenty of new dishes for you to try out during each visit.

Ethically Responsible

When you know what farms your food is coming from, you can support ethically responsible farming practices, like free-range meat, non-GMO crops, and organic farming. This is an excellent way to use your purchasing power for good, furthering the causes that you believe in and encouraging other local farms to adopt and continue these practices.

Hearthstone: Your Farm-to-Table Restaurant

Want to enjoy delicious, fresh cuisine made from the highest quality sourced ingredients? At Hearthstone, Executive Chef Brian Masse tailors Hearthstone's dishes to focus on seasonal ingredients for an absolutely delicious taste.

From freshly shucked oysters to our hugely popular Taco Tuesdays , we offer plenty of variety so you're sure to find something that delights your taste buds. Of course, we source only the finest ingredients, giving all of our dishes the top quality and flavor that you deserve.

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10 Benefits of Farm to Table Restaurants - Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar

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Farm to Table at Hearthstone The farm-to-table movement's drive to bring locally grown foods to restaurants, stores, and homes means many positive benefits for consumers - in other words, you. Locally sourced food is fresh and delicious, plus you're supporting your local farmers by purchasing it.

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When you support a restaurant with a farm-to-table business model, you’re not just supporting that one local restaurant – you’re supporting many other local businesses. The farmers, bakers, artists, and others who have created or grown the ingredients of your dish will all benefit from your restaurant choice. Your money goes to support your state, rather than supporting other states where the ingredients have been sourced from.

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Farm to Table at Hearthstone

The farm-to-table movement's drive to bring locally grown foods to restaurants, stores, and homes means many positive benefits for consumers - in other words, you. Locally sourced food is fresh and delicious, plus you're supporting your local farmers by purchasing it. But have you ever thought about the benefits of dining at farm-to-table restaurants? Here are 10 reasons why you can feel great about choosing to dine at a farm to table restaurant like Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar .

Fresh Flavors

Restaurants that source their ingredients from local farms and gardens can take advantage of the fresh flavors that these ingredients offer. Rather than needing to preserve, freeze, or otherwise extend the useful life of these ingredients, your dish will taste fresh because it truly is fresh.

Only Natural Ingredients

Because fresh ingredients require no preservatives, you can enjoy your meal knowing just what's in it - natural ingredients. You'll have the peace of mind knowing that you and your family are eating quality, natural foods even though you haven't done the preparation and cooking, yourself.

Improved Nutrition

Another benefit of the fact that local foods aren't shipped, stored, and aged? They're more nutritious. In order to keep shipped foods from going bad, foods such as fruits are often picked before they've ripened. However, these foods often lack the nutrition that foods allowed to fully ripen and mature can provide us.

Environmental Benefits

When you dine out at a farm-to-table restaurant, you're helping the environment, too. Because local food is transported just small distances, less fuel is consumed and less emissions are released in the process of getting the ingredients to the restaurant.

Economy Benefits

When you support a restaurant with a farm-to-table business model, you're not just supporting that one local restaurant - you're supporting many other local businesses . The farmers, bakers, artists, and others who have created or grown the ingredients of your dish will all benefit from your restaurant choice. Your money goes to support your state, rather than supporting other states where the ingredients have been sourced from.

Role Model Opportunities

Want to educate your kids on sustainability, the importance of the local economy, and the benefits of fresh foods? Visiting a farm-to-table restaurant is a great way to do it. Talk with your kids about how the farm-to-table model works, and explain why supporting farm-to-table dining is so important. Kids often learn better by experiencing something firsthand, so a fun dinner out can also become a meaningful experience for the whole family.

Know Where Your Food Came From

Thanks to farm-to-table, you'll know where your food came from. Many farm-to-table restaurants are able to tell you the specific farms that supply their ingredients, so you can understand which farms you're supporting.

Plenty of Food Choices

One of the great benefits of farm-to-table restaurants is that they can access a wide range of ingredients that are in season. From fruits and vegetables to meats, cheeses, and more, there are countless foods that restaurants can source from local farms. In many cases, your entire meal may be locally grown, meaning it's fresh, nutritious, and supporting multiple local businesses.

Naturally Changing Menus

Tired of choosing from the same dishes whenever you head to your favorite restaurant? If the restaurant is a farm-to-table restaurant, then the menu will evolve naturally, giving you plenty of new and fresh choices. Because the restaurant must source only ingredients that are in-season, they'll adjust their menu selections to reflect that. This means seasonal dishes that will come and go, and plenty of new dishes for you to try out during each visit.

Ethically Responsible

When you know what farms your food is coming from, you can support ethically responsible farming practices, like free-range meat, non-GMO crops, and organic farming. This is an excellent way to use your purchasing power for good, furthering the causes that you believe in and encouraging other local farms to adopt and continue these practices.

Hearthstone: Your Farm-to-Table Restaurant

Want to enjoy delicious, fresh cuisine made from the highest quality sourced ingredients? At Hearthstone, Executive Chef Brian Masse tailors Hearthstone's dishes to focus on seasonal ingredients for an absolutely delicious taste.

From freshly shucked oysters to our hugely popular Taco Tuesdays , we offer plenty of variety so you're sure to find something that delights your taste buds. Of course, we source only the finest ingredients, giving all of our dishes the top quality and flavor that you deserve.

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10 Benefits of Farm to Table Restaurants - Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar

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Farm to Table at Hearthstone The farm-to-table movement's drive to bring locally grown foods to restaurants, stores, and homes means many positive benefits for consumers - in other words, you. Locally sourced food is fresh and delicious, plus you're supporting your local farmers by purchasing it.

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Generally, grass fed beef is considered to be a healthier option than grain-fed beef. Pound for pound, it has less total fat, and therefore less calories. Grass-fed beef, as the name implies, comes from cows that eat mostly grass. Grain-fed cows eat a diet supplemented with soy and corn and other additives.

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For many of us, the term "Grass-Fed" evokes mental images of happy cattle basking in the beautiful, blue skies of a wide-open range as they graze on verdant pastures. But the benefits of grass-fed meat don't stop there -- not only is grass-fed beef more nutritious than grain-fed alternatives, but it is also much better for the environment and for the animals themselves.

Better Nutrition

If you're a meat connoisseur, you may already know there is a slight difference in taste between grass-fed and grain-fed beef. The root of that flavor discrepancy? It's all in the fats. Studies show that grass-fed beef has up to 3x more nutrients and up to 6x more omega-3 fatty acids than beef coming from corn-fed cattle because they do not fatten as quickly on a grass-only diet.

Grass-Fed Cattle Are Environmentally-Preferred

Most grain-fed animals live in small, crowded feedlots, which can lead to massive local pollution issues from the sheer output of concentrated waste. When grass-fed cattle are rotated on pastures, the animals trample their manure into the earth, leading to much healthier soil. The nitrogen contained in cow manure can also eliminate the need for synthetic fertilizers, thus improving the quality of run-off water. Additionally, when the cattle are able to roam freely, they stimulate the grasses which traps greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide underground, keeping it out of the atmosphere.

Improving Quality of Life for Livestock

Grass-fed cattle that spend their entire lives grazing on a pasture lead significantly better lives than their grain-fed counterparts who are often only given enough room to stand. 100% grass-fed animals have the freedom to wander as they please and socialize with other animals. Meat certifications such as GAP-Rated (which Pressery's beef has!) require the animals spend at least ¾ of their lives on a range or pasture. These strict animal welfare standards also mean that the cows and calves must be kept together for at least 6 months before being weaned. Cows with better living conditions typically need little to no antibiotics and have more robust immune systems.

The Takeaway:

Check your labels before you buy. Look for 100% Grass-Fed (as opposed to grass-finished) and buy organic as often as possible to keep livestock, the environment, and your body as well-nourished as possible.

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The term "Grass-Fed" evokes mental images of happy cattle basking in the beautiful, blue skies of a wide-open range as they graze on verdant pastures. But the benefits of grass-fed meat don't stop there -- not only is grass-fed beef more nutritious than grain-fed alternatives, but it is also better for the environment.

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Grass-fed beef is considered to be a better option than grain-fed beef. It had less total fat, therefore, fewer calories. This is where we will get our supply of grass-fed beef for our farm-to-table restaurant.

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Our pasture raised pork is outstanding. There is a reason top restaurants seek out this product. If you've never tried it, get some today

The dish pictured is from Red Feather in Cincinnati, OH.

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100% Grass Fed Beef - Marksbury Farm Market - Kentucky

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Our pasture raised pork is outstanding. There is a reason top restaurants seek out this product. If you've never tried it, get some today The dish pictured is from Red Feather in Cincinnati, OH.

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5 AFFORDABLE TYPES OF ORGANIC FOOD TO TRY IN 2020

Organic food is normally fruits and vegetables but there are also organic dairy, meat, and fish options. Organic food is naturally grown, unlike non-organically which is conventionally grown.
Organic fruits: Fruit is one of the most common types of organic food. They are grown without using extra pesticides or fertilizers. Organic fruits help reduce public health risks, the foods organically grown are richer in nutrients.
Organic Dairy: The real organic hormones have not treated the real value of organic milk, yogurt, and cheese.

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Organic food has been a major trend with farmers and consumers alike for the past decade. These days, you can buy organic food in just about every grocery store. But many people don't even know exactly what organic food is. types of organic food and the benefits they can bring! Let's dig into the five main

What is Organic Food?

In order to receive a , produce must limit pesticide use to a certain level and only certain types of pesticides may be used. Other organic foods like dairy and meat must be produced without hormones or antibiotics, as relevant. While you can't know exactly where it's been and how it's been grown, organic food is the second-best option to growing your own produce .

Food grown non-organically is referred to as conventionally grown. Conventional food may contain pesticides under a more liberal legal limit. Conventional dairy and meat may be produced using USDA-approved antibiotics and hormones.

Types of Organic Food

Organic Fruits

Since insects are attracted to sweet, fruity smells, don't expect your organic fruit to look "perfect." While farmers will choose the best produce to sell, the absence of pesticides means that they may have blemishes or marks on their skin. However, they will taste just as good if not better than conventional fruit.

Organic Vegetables

Vegetables are another common organic purchase. Since their peels and skins are often eaten, they are directly subjected to pesticide sprays. This means that eating organic vegetables can make a big difference in the amount of pesticide residue you and your family are exposed to.

Much like with fruit, organic vegetables may have imperfections in their shape or skin, but they are just as delicious (if not more!) on the inside.

Organic Dairy

Organic dairy has become popular because it contains more Omega-3s, but some doctors and nutritionists say the levels are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. They suggest that the real value of organic milk, yogurt, and cheese is that the cows they come from have not been treated with any hormones or antibiotics.

Buying organic dairy can also benefit the environment, as it has a smaller carbon footprint and reduces pesticides that can make their way into the air and water.

Organic Meat

Organic meat comes from animals that have not been fed hormones or treated with pesticides or antibiotics. Since the animals are not given hormones that cause them to grow at unnatural rates or in unnatural ways, organic meat tends to be leaner and have a better texture and taste.

Organic Fish & Seafood

There is some controversy about what makes fish and seafood organic . Typically, "organic" means that the food has not been treated with pesticides, antibiotics, or hormones. But when it comes to wild fish and seafood, it is hard to be sure that they have not had contact with any of those things.

Farm-raised fish are fed a very specific diet to help them breed more efficiently, which isn't in line with organic philosophy. So, the general consensus is that wild-caught seafood and fish is as close to organic as it gets.

The Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 For 2023

If you're watching your weekly grocery budget, you may not be able to choose organic for every item you need. Luckily, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases two lists each year that help you decide which produce is best to buy organic: the dirty dozen and clean 15 .

Dirty Dozen

The "dirty dozen" refers to the 12 fruits and vegetables that have the most pesticide residue when grown by conventional farmers. While all produce has to pass a legal limit for pesticide use, these fruits and vegetables should be prioritized when buying organic.

Here is the EWG's most recent dirty dozen organic foods list:

The EWG also issues a "clean 15" list each year, which lists out the 15 fruits and vegetables with the least pesticide residue. While they may contain some pesticides, they are generally considered lower priorities for buying organic. Many of them also have hard skins or rinds that provide protection from pesticide sprays.

Here is the EWG's most recent clean 15 organic foods list:

Organic Foods Pros and Cons

The Benefits of Eating Organic Foods

There are a number of benefits to buying organic food:

No pesticides, antibiotics, or hormones

Can be more nutrient-rich

Generally fresher in taste

Better for the environment

The Drawbacks of Eating Organic Foods

There are also a few drawbacks to weigh when you decide to buy organic food:

Higher cost

Limited availability (either in variety or location)

May have a shorter shelf-life due to fewer preservatives

Should Kids Eat Organic Foods?

If your child is a picky eater, consider only buying the foods you know they love organically. If they're trying a type of food for the first time, buy conventionally to save a little money.

If your child has food sensitivities or allergies, buying organic can be a good idea. It controls many factors in farming so you truly know what you are eating.

Buying organic foods can be a good way to teach your children about the effects of farming on the environment.

That being said, many doctors and nutritionists emphasize the "more is more" principle. While local, organic produce is ideal, it is more important that your children eat a wide variety and large quantity of produce.

Hungry for some fresh, local, organic produce? Order online for pick-up or delivery from Stauffers of Kissel Hill!

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Types Of Organic Food & The Many Benefits Of Buying Organic

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Learn about the different types of organic food and their benefits. Our guide will teach you everything you need to know about buying organic foods.

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Studies have shown that organic foods put children at a lower risk of getting eczema and allergies. In both children and adults having an organic food diet highers the immune system and helps contribute to better health overall. Organic foods are also good for healthier, clearer skin.

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In this post, we’ll discuss what makes food organic; explore the benefits of eating certified organic foods; examine why it’s so popular, and more.

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Grass-Fed vs. Grain-Fed Cows

A common misconception is that grass-fed beef doesn’t taste as good as the more marbled beef found in stores. However, an increasing number of consumers are discovering that grass-fed steaks and other grass-fed, grass-finished cuts of beef are not only tender and well-marbled but are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Being raised in these different environments and with different diets has an impact on the beef that we end up consuming. Part of the reason for the rise in grass-fed beef’s popularity among American consumers is that grass-fed beef tends to be leaner.

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Grass-fed and grain fed are each very different production strategies and they each have many, many variables that will be different from farm to farm. Nonetheless, grass fed production has the potential to be significantly cheaper than grain-fed production because of the lower capital requirements of letting cattle do the majority of the forage harvesting instead of using capital-hungry equipment, fuel, and human labor. The short answer is that the cost to produce grass fed beef all depends on what grass fed production strategies have been built into a farm's beef production plan.

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Grass Fed vs Grain Fed: Which Should I Choose?

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Grass fed cows graze on grass throughout their lifespan, whereas grain fed cows are fed a soy and corn-based diet at the end of their life.

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What Is Organic Food and 15 Health Benefits

Organic food production prohibits the use of any chemical use and is becoming very popular among the portion of the population because the health benefits want to be known.

The Health Benefits:
1. Better overall health
2. Improved Heart condition
3. Better taste
4. Pesticide cutback
5. Stronger immune system
6. Organic products are poison- free
7. Organic foods are not genetically modified
8. Environmental safety
9. You are certain that you are consuming fresh food
10. Lowe levels of toxic metals

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Organic food refers to food products that are produced, prepared, and processed without the use of any chemicals. It means organic food production prohibits the use of chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or chemical preservatives. Consequently, organic foods are increasingly gaining popularity because a greater portion of the population wants to know its benefits. The general public belief is that organic food is healthier compared to the conventional ones, and it's the primary reason for its increased demand over the past decade.

The choice of consuming organic foods is thus a growing trend in the world of today following the realization of healthy self improvement needs. However, finding accurate facts about organic foods has always been confusing as people have varied opinions regarding its benefits as a whole. This article defines the most accurate facts about the top 15 health benefits of eating organic food.

Top 15 Health Benefits of Eating Organic Food

Because organic food is not produced or processed by the use of chemical pesticides or chemical fertilizers, it does not contain any elements of toxic chemicals and may not affect human health in harmful ways. The use of natural techniques such as green manure to fertilize the lands and crop rotation in pest and disease control work absolutely well in producing safer, healthier, and smellier final food products. Besides, healthy foodstuff simply means healthy people and better nourishment for a better living for both people and animals.

The positive effects of antioxidants on overall health have been established in a number of scientific studies, especially those derived from organic foods. This is because organic foods are free of foreign chemicals that normally react with vitamins, organic compounds and minerals thus lowering the essential positive impacts of antioxidants in food products.

Latest studies propose that the consumption of organic food can contribute to more intake of nutritionally advantageous antioxidants and limited exposure to heavy metals. The positive impacts of antioxidants obtained from organic foods include prevention of heart disease, cancer, vision problems, premature aging, and cognitive malfunction.

Exclusive grazing on natural grass increases the amounts of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) found in animal products. The suns energy is well taken in by natural grass through photosynthesis and is converted into the most desirable organic CLA by the herbivores that feed on it. CLA is a heart-healthy fatty acid with the potential of bolstering cardiovascular protection, and it is found in higher quantities in the meat and milk products of animals that have been pastured in free range.

Humans are susceptible to various health issues and disease, and most of the time they have to take precautionary measures to ensure they remain healthy. This is achieved by getting a variety of vaccinations and antibiotic drugs when a new strain of virus or bacteria is realized. Similarly, non-organic food sources (especially livestock and feeds) use vaccines, growth hormones, animal byproducts, and antibiotics to treat and feed the animals.

When humans consume the non-organic food products, they indirectly consume the antibiotics, growth hormones and vaccines which weaken immune systems on the account of antibiotic, vaccine, hormones, and animal byproducts overdose. This may alter the immune system thereby rendering humans unable to defend themselves against diseases. The benefit of organic foods is that their production processes does not involve the use of antibiotics, growth hormones, animal byproducts, or vaccines.

Apart from nutrition, the mineral and sugar structures in organic foods are tasty because the crops are given more time to develop and mature. The use of natural and environmentally friendly agricultural production techniques is revealed to be the reason for the better taste in organic food products. It is commonly reported that the taste of organic vegetables and fruits are of higher quality compared to those that are conventionally grown.

Chemical pesticides consumption is linked to a variety of diseases and disorders namely cancers, digestive dysfunctions, headaches, ADHD, birth defects, weakened immune system, and even premature death. Organic foods are free of pesticides and that is why they are preferable for attaining a better overall health. As much as pesticides have the power of keeping certain pests away from the crops, they also have potent chemicals like organophosphorus.

These chemicals are unnatural and they are the mineral compounds that bring about several health abnormalities in humans. Organophosphorus, for instance, is associated with various developmental disorders such as ADHD and autism. Organic food products therefore offer a better healthy living, especially for children who are potentially affected by the pesticide toxins during their developmental ages.

The traditional or industrial farming practices aim at enhancing production and farm output by all means necessary. For example, the notion of producing more cereals, more meat and bigger fruits through genetic modifications and use of growth hormones seems to solve some of the world's food insecurity concerns. The effects are not yet visible, but in the long-term, the consequences are sensitivity to allergens and a major reduction in immune system strength.

By eating organic foods, the risks of decline in immune system strength are significantly reduced because organic foods are not altered at all. Furthermore, organic foods have quality and higher vitamin and mineral contents that help to strengthen the human immune system.

Organic farming does not use any kind of dangerous chemicals to keep away pests and diseases. All the practices are natural and thus do not harm the consumer. Aspects such as biomagnification are lessened via the practice of organic farming as chemical pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, and artificial growth hormones are all prohibited on an organic farm. Therefore, organic food products are free of contamination with health harming chemical substances.

Organic food products such as organic meat, organic milk, organic fish, and organic poultry contain very high nutritional content because they do not contain modified ingredients compared to the conventional agricultural food products. Another factor that makes them highly nutritious is that they are given time to develop and are provided with the best natural conditions for growth. The vitamin and mineral contents of organic food products are always high as the soil life and health offers the most suitable mechanism for crops to access soil nutrients.

Organic foods are GMO free, that is, they are not genetically engineered in nature. Genetic engineering of food products is a huge concern in the current era. They are foods or plants with altered DNA in manners that do not take place in nature, usually to enhance resistance to pesticides/herbicides. While there is lack of conclusive evidence of its dangers, food safety advocates are concerned that long-term research has not been conducted to confirm their safety.

The food safety advocates believe GMOs are a leading cause of slowed brain growth, internal organ damage, gastrointestinal disorders, and the thickening of the digestive tract. Thus, the health benefit of consuming organic food is that they are free of GMOs, a very common component in non-organic foods.

Organic foods are locally grown and pose very minimal interference to the environmental resources that support healthy living. Since harmful chemicals are forbidden in organic farming, there is minimum water, air, and soil pollution therefore ensuring a healthier and safer environment. To be precise, organic farming lessens the long-term human health implications caused by air, water, and soil pollution.

Organic food products are guided by very strict standards of production, processing and preparation. Not at any time will you find chemical preservatives used in organic foods. As such, organic food is often fresher and full of flavor since it doesn't make use of preservatives to make it have a longer shelf life. Majority of organic food products are sold or availed locally next to where they are produced.

There have been several reported cases of food-borne illness outbreaks. Eggs, spinach, peanut butter, melons, and foods from fast food restaurants have topped the list as their production is primarily centered on agribusiness gains. Even the animals are sick as a big percentage of them are drugged, vaccinated, and fed on animal byproducts to enhance their productivity so as to meet the ever growing agribusiness demands.

This practice is known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and it causes deadly drug-resistant infections which are acquired by the end consumers when the food products are eaten. The best way to prevent the food-borne illness outbreaks is to opt for organic food.

Organic meat and milk is of the highest quality. There are claims that meat is not good for human health. However, it is the CAFOs that normally worsen meat and milk quality by introducing foreign and unhealthy antibiotics as well as other drugs in the final food product.

When you consume milk and meat that is organically produced, prepared and processed, you are guaranteed of products with higher quality vitamins and minerals. For instance, organic milk is proved to have 60% more omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and CLA than non-organic milk. Also, organic cows are pasture grazed which results in the better meat quality.

By now, it's clear that whatever we ingest indirectly comes from the soil together with other physical environmental interactions. So, the fact that organic farming doesn't use agrichemicals for crop production means minimized consumption of toxic metals. New studies confirm that organic crops have 48% lower levels of the toxic metal cadmium than conventional crops.

About Rinkesh

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What is Organic Food and 15 Health Benefits of Eating Organic Food - Conserve Energy Future

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Organic food refers to food products that are produced, prepared, and processed without the use of any chemicals. It means organic food production prohibits the use of chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or chemical preservatives. Consequently, organic foods are increasingly gaining popularity because a greater portion of the population wants to know its benefits.

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Farm to table, also known as farm to fork, can be defined as a social movement where restaurants source their ingredients from local farms, usually through direct acquisition from a farmer. Most traditional restaurants get their produce from other parts of the country or around the world. These ingredients need to be shipped long distances, and as a result, they are usually picked before they are ripe to lengthen their lifespan, or they are frozen to prevent spoiling. All of this results in food that is bland and less nutritious.

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While overripe fruits and vegetables may not be ideal, it doesn't mean they're unusable in the kitchen. Instead of contributing to the country's billions of pounds of food waste , get creative with your sprouting spuds, pruney peaches, and brown bananas. Below are a few uses for overripe fruits and vegetables, as well as a few specific solutions for giving common culprits a second life. Ways to Use Overripe Vegetables Having an abundance of fresh, in-season vegetables means you may not get to enjoying them all in a timely manner. If your vegetables are starting to lose their visual appeal, consider using them in any of the following ways: Make a soup or stew : Throw veggies, broth, and spices and herbs into a stock pot and let them simmer t

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Growing a Culinary Garden for Your Restaurant

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While overripe fruits and vegetables may not be ideal, it doesn't mean they're unusable in the kitchen. Instead of contributing to the country's billions of pounds of food waste , get creative with your sprouting spuds, pruney peaches, and brown bananas.

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https://www.buckinghamfarmsonline.com/7-reasons-why-you-need-to-eat-at-a-farm-to-table-restauran

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If you're into eating healthy, choosing a restaurant can be more of a challenge. You want to know the origin of your food. Where did it come from? Are the ingredients natural?

One way you can know is by choosing a farm to table restaurant. We explain from farm to table means and give 7 reasons why you should choose one.

What Does a Farm to Table Restaurant Mean?

What is farm to table? Although there may be different interpretations, farm-to-table essentially means that the food comes directly from specific, locally sourced farms. The food never goes through the regular process of flowing from the farm to a store or distributor.

In some cases, the "table" is located at or near the actual farm. The chefs prepare dishes using ingredients that are grown at the farm. With other operations, the restaurant establishes a relationship with a farm, buying food directly from them without going through a distributor or food market.

Now, let's talk about the 7 benefits of choosing farm to table restaurants near you.

Reason 1: Eat the Freshest of the Fresh

If you're Googling "fresh food near me", your best bet is a farm-to-table restaurant. Many of the chain restaurants use frozen or packaged foods disguised with a lot of flavors and sauces. The goal is to ensure you don't notice.

However, there is no "disguising" the difference between prepared and fresh foods. The flavor of fresh farm to table dishes will explode in your mouth. Once you recognize this difference, you'll be hard-pressed to eat at traditional restaurants again.

Reason 2: Eat Natural Ingredients

If you actually pay attention to the "ingredients" in modern food, it's easy to become horrified. Think about how food is produced today. Processed foods, growth hormones, chemically engineered, tainted meat, and dairy all combine to produce foods your body doesn't recognize and can't digest properly.

Farm to table means you're eating natural food that is produced locally and responsibly. The restaurant knows what ingredients are used in the dishes because they know the suppliers.

Reason 3: Better Nutrition

It's normal for food to be picked before they're ripe these days. That's because most food has to be shipped, stored, or aged before it's used to make dishes at a restaurant. While it may help fruits and vegetables last long enough to reach your table, picking food too early often means they lack nutritional value.

Farm to table restaurants serve fresh foods that don't have to "last long" enough to reach your table. They are fully ripe and ready to provide the nutrition your body needs to keep you healthy and strong.

Reason 4: Better for the Environment

If you care about our planet, farm to table is the way to go. Locally produced foods don't need to be shipped a long way by truck, train, or plane, leading to fewer emissions and pollution released into the environment.

By supporting local farmers, you're also helping a family-run business, rather than a large plant or mass food producers that use pesticides and other chemicals to treat crops or reduce bug infestations. You can also stand against farming practices that end up damaging the earth, plants, and animals.

Reason 5: Know Where Your Food Has Been

If you order a meal at a traditional or chain restaurant, you can't know where those fruits, vegetables, or meat came from. That could have come from a slaughterhouse or a producer that uses unethical and inhumane practices in order to harvest meat from pigs, cows, and chickens. Imagine chickens or pigs raised in tiny boxes that don't allow them to run free or ever see the sun.

When you sit down at a farm to table restaurant you know where the food comes from. You know where (and how) your food was sourced and produced. You even know how it wound up on your table.

Reason 6: More Variety of Foods

You might believe the myth that the foods and ingredients of dishes at farm-to-table restaurants are limited because they only buy from local farms. You'd be wrong.

Your dishes can be created a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, and dairy from local farms and producers. The only boundaries lie in the limits of the chef's imagination.

A local farm is going to grow crops or raise livestock during certain seasons. While this may seem limited, it actually leads to a menu that rotates to take advantage of seasonal ingredients or things that may only be available for a limited time.

You'll always be able to find and enjoy new dishes at farm to table restaurants. Whether fall root vegetables or summer corn, the ingredients are ever-changing and surprising.

Bonus Reason: More Ethical Dining

Choosing farm-to-table means supporting farms that use ethically responsible farming practices. These practices can include free-range meat, non-GMO crops, and organic farming methods. If you care about "putting your money where your mouth is", eating farm to table is the way to go.

About Buckingham Farms

Buckingham Farms in Fort Myers, Florida operates an 80+ acre ranch, hydroponic farm, country store, restaurant, and Rustic Barn for weddings. Serving the residents of Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Bonita Springs, and Naples, we specialize in providing the freshest fruits and vegetables, and farm-produced products.

Our farm to table restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, featuring farm-fresh classics, sandwiches straight from the cutting board, and premium dinners. You can even order a Friday Night Dinner To-Go.

Contact us to make reservations or inquire about using the Rustic Barn for your next event.

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7 Reasons Why You Need to Eat at a Farm to Table Restaurant | Buckingham Farms

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If you're into eating healthy, choosing a restaurant can be more of a challenge. You want to know the origin of your food. Where did it come from? Are the ingredients natural? One way you can know is by choosing a farm to table restaurant.

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Having a farm-to-table restaurant benefits the local economy. For example many farm to table restaurants use locally sourced ingredients, so not only does this bring the freshest food to your table but while you are enjoying your fresh food you are purchasing from your local farmers which stimulates the economy in your area. Eating at a farm-to-table restaurant will provide you with peace of mind as you know that your food was provided without the use of harmful additives and the meats came from farms who are dedicated to the humane treatment of their animals

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Choosing a restaurant that serves locally sourced food is more than providing delicious nourishment for your body; it is a unique experience. You will find that the managers and chefs are passionate about their unique practices and proud of the fact that sustainable, organic food is the star of their menu.You will not find a more welcoming eatery than one that is Earth-friendly. The people within the doors are eager to welcome you inside and give you a taste of real, true food that leaves out added artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. This is simple food from sources producing complicated and enjoyable flavors - food the way that it was meant to be eaten. Here are some of the advantages of farm to table restaurants for their guests.

Better for Your Body

One of the biggest advantages of farm to table restaurants is that food is created from sources that leave out the chemical additives. It is fresh, organic and crafted keeping the body in mind. It is important to know what is in your food and even more important to know what has been left out. A lot of foods are labelled with ingredients that many people do not recognize. These are consumed without a thought, when in fact they contain many chemical additives that can have adverse effects on the body.Artificial colors and preservatives have been found to cause multiple reactions and might even be a culprit behind cancers. Avoiding putting these chemicals in your body will benefit you long term. Farm to table restaurants avoid the guessing game - you get great food that is better for your body.

Benefits Your Local Economy

Many farm to table restaurants use locally sourced ingredients. Not only does this bring the freshest food to your table, but purchasing from local farmers stimulates the economy in your area. Supporting small businesses is a key element to building thriving communities. Behind the chef, who is excited to bring you their innovative creations, is a farmer who is passionate about growing food the right way - organically, with love and care.Eating at a farm to table restaurant will provide you with peace of mind, as you will know that your produce was provided without the use of harmful additives and your meats came from farms who are dedicated to the humane treatment of their animals, right next door.

Decreases Your Carbon Footprint

Farm to table restaurant cut out many of the middle men. They go themselves to the local sources to get their ingredients, cutting out the need for trucks to bring the foods long distances. Not only are the food sources organic, but so are multiple eating and drinking utensils as well as packaging. Recycling is done whenever possible. This decreases your carbon footprint. The world can be a little cleaner by visiting farm to table restaurants, one dinner at a time.For more information, visit our philosophies page or contact a representative at The Mill Kitchen and Bar today.

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The Advantages of Farm to Table Restaurants for Their Guests! | The Mill Kichen and Bar

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Farm to table is food the way that it was meant to be eaten. Here are some of the advantages of farm to table restaurants for their guests.

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The point of a farm-to-table restaurant is to have the food straight from the garden served to the customers, hence the "farm-to-table" name. Obviously to run a farm-to-table restaurant it must include the farm, or more specifically a garden. Food from the garden is obtained and then used in a dish, and normally the garden is full of many organic foods which vary from season to season. Growing your own produce can ensure that you always have the items you need. However growing your own produce is a huge plus the restaurant owners should check building codes, health ordinances, and local nuisance laws before proceeding with their garden.

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How to Start a Farm-to-Table Restaurant in 15 Steps

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In this article you’ll learn how farm-to-table restaurants works and different steps on how to start one. Read on to learn more.

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Farm to table can add diverse foods to one's diet and can lower carbon footprint. Produce can be flown, driven, and can even travel by train to get to a supermarket, creating a massive carbon footprint. It also tastes much better and is healthier because it hasn't been processed.

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Spring is finally here and that means it's time for the Des Moines Downtown Farmers' Market! The Downtown Farmers' Market begins on Saturdays in May and runs through October each year, and this year's event is sponsored by UnityPoint Health - Des Moines! Iowa farmers come from all around the state to sell their family farm products. Visitors can buy fresh flowers, eggs, produce, meat, baked goods, handcrafted art, wine, cheese, and more. This year, there will be 300 family farms, local artists, and bakers represented at the Des Moines Farmers' Market. The event offers an excellent opportunity to participate in the farm to table movement, a growing trend in the United States.

What is Farm to Table?

The farm to table movement is what it sounds like. Products, like produce, meat, flowers, etc., are brought straight from a local farm to a community area like a farmers' market. Then, the community purchases the local products and takes them home to their table. It sounds simple, but in a world of processed foods, fast food, and food from overseas, the idea had lost its popularity for several decades. Thanks to a renewed interest in eco-friendly, healthy, and simple living, the farm to table movement is slowly making a come back.

One of the best ways to jump into the farm to table movement is at your local farmers' market. Start a trend in your community today by visiting the Des Moines Farmers' Market!

Ways to Start Living Better at the Farmers' Market

1. Diversify Your Food.

If you feel like you're stuck in a routine of eating the same foods, here's a good way to introduce new foods and recipes! A farmers' market offers a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to help you expand your taste buds and your nutritional intake.

2. Help The Environment.

Buying your food from farm to table is exceptionally environmentally friendly. Some produce you find in stores and restaurants come long distances to get to your plate. Forget the planes, trains, trucks, and boats! The produce at your local farmers' market only traveled a short distance to get to you.

3. Ditch Processed Foods.

Farm to table food is healthier than processed and packaged foods. First of all, it's all natural and many of the ingredients and products are locally grown or raised. Secondly, it probably contains fewer calories, fat, sugar, and carbohydrates than the pre-packaged food you find at the store.

4. More Nutrients.

Food that travels from long distances doesn't have as many nutrients as locally grown food. Produce that has to make a long trek to your grocery store is often picked before it's ripe and fully ready to eat, which can reduce its nutritional value.

5. Better Taste.

Locally grown food tastes better. Farm to table food is grown to taste as good as possible while mass-produced foods are grown in quantity. Both taste and nutritional content are retained when produce ripens naturally.

6. Educate Your Kids.

Farm to table can be educational! If your kids live in the city or the suburbs, they might not even realize how much farmland is in their state. Taking them to a farmers' market can open their eyes to the amazing things that farms produce.

7. Eat Healthier.

Studies show that people who eat at home consume fewer calories. They also eat less fat and sugar at each meal. Preparing homemade food with produce you find at your local farmers' market can help your entire family eat healthier.

8. Simplify Your Life.

Farm to table is a simple concept. It cuts out the middleman and provides you with fresh and healthy produce faster. We live in a world full of technology, a lot of which has affected our food consumption. Farm to table goes back to the basics.

9. Find Farm to Table Recipes.

Today, many recipes are specifically using the farm to table products to make the dish as delicious and healthy as possible. Take a moment to chat with the farmer selling their produce and ask them how they would recommend preparing a particular product.

10. Support Your State.

You are helping Iowa with your purchases. All of the money goes back into the hands of family farms, local bakers, artists, and others.

11. Save Money.

Locally grown food isn't as expensive as you think. Making homemade food with local products saves you money. Despite the myth that only young, wealthy, "hipsters" buy food at farmers' markets, you will see people from every walk of life reaping the benefits of farm to table products.

12. Support Family Farms.

You are supporting your local farmers with every product you purchase. You will meet the families you are supporting, one-on-one, as you select your food.

13. Bring Your Family Together.

Family meals at home bring families closer together and can benefit children! Studies have shown that family meals can lower the rates of teen pregnancy, drugs, obesity, eating disorders and depression. They also show that family dinners help boost self-esteem, grade-point averages, and vocabulary.

Make a homemade meal with your family tonight with locally grown produce. You will get more benefits than you can imagine! Stop by the UnityPoint Health - Des Moines booth to visit with our staff at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market!

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How the Farm to Table Trend Can Create a Healthier Lifestyle

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Spring is finally here and that means it's time for the Des Moines Downtown Farmers' Market! The Downtown Farmers' Market begins on Saturdays in May and runs through October each year, and this year's event is sponsored by UnityPoint Health - Des Moines! Iowa farmers come from all around the state to sell their family farm products.

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Because farm to table food is so quick, significantly more nutrients are in the vegetables one is consuming. They also don't need to be frozen or preserved, meaning that because of the absence of boiling to preserve them, there is much more vitamin C and allows people to know exactly what they are eating. People who use farm to table also have a much more varied diet.

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Are you looking forward to your dinner tonight or are you going to settle for a microwave meal or takeout once again?

Studies show that around 75% of Americans eat too few fruits, vegetables, dairy, and healthy oils. This explains the high obesity rates in the USA but a poor diet also has many other severe health consequences.

Type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, tooth decay, osteoporosis, elevated cholesterol, and some cancers are all linked to bad eating habits.

Are you ready to do what it takes to safeguard your health? Farm-to-table meals are a delicious and convenient answer.

1. Farm-to-Table Meals are the Best Fast Food

Locally produced food arrives fresh and full of nutrients. It doesn't undergo freezing and processing to preserve its shelf life.

There are two reasons why this is important for your health.

Nutritional Value

Firstly, the longer it takes for fresh produce to reach your plate, the fewer nutrients you'll get to eat. As soon as the farmer harvests fruit and vegetables, they turn to their stored nutrients for sustenance.

An early study by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture revealed that most fresh foods travel around before they reach the consumer. To compensate for this, farmers harvest most of their produce before it's totally ripe so that it arrives at its peak.

So, although these products look, smell, and taste great, they're lacking the full quota of nutrition they would have developed in situ.

Farm-to-table produce rarely makes more than a local trip, so it's harvested at it's best and doesn't have time to 'eat-up' all its nutritional value along the way.

Preserving Goodness

In the second place, short distances mean that it's not necessary to freeze or preserve these foods in any way.

Although these methods are reasonably good for maintaining the nutritional value of fruit and vegetables, they're usually blanched at some stage during the process.

Blanching and boiling destroy vitamins, especially Vitamin C, so the frozen product starts out at a disadvantage.

Farm-to-table meals made from these ingredients offer superior nutritional value when compared to those made from commercially-sourced goods.

Restaurants that grow their own produce on-site are the best option if you want to get the most out of your meals. That way, there are no plastic containers, bags, or wrapping involved in the process.

2. Fresh Foods are Better For Everyone's Health

These short travel times automatically translate into fewer carbon emissions. Since the ingredients used in farm-to-table recipes travel only a short distance, they're kinder on the environment.

Small local farmers take time to practice hydroponics, natural methods, and sustainable farming methods. By supporting these practices, you're helping to grow this trend.

By encouraging organic farming practices you're helping reduce the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers favored by large agricultural concerns.

This means farm-to-table meals indirectly benefit the Earth too, which is good for all of us.

3. You'll Get a More Varied Diet

Small-scale farmers can afford to experiment with fruits and vegetables with lower public demand.

This means restaurants have a wider diversity of choices when sourcing ingredients for their farm-to-table recipes.

Thanks to this, they get to try out new things all the time. So, when you order farm-to-table eats, trying different food becomes the norm.

4. You Know What You're Getting

The farm-fresh produce used in farm-to-table eats is as pure as it comes. There are no added preservatives, salt or sugar added.

Frozen dinners, canned goods, and salty snacks are often chock-full of monosodium glutamate (MSG). GMOs, chicken dipped in chlorine baths, and hormone-packed beef are common topics of debate when it comes to commercially-farmed products.

The only way to ensure you avoid these nasties is to stick with sources of protein from reputable small farmers who value quality over profit.

Small-scale farmers have the time and patience for hands-on organic practices that benefit both your health and the environment.

5. You'll Consume Fewer Calories

If you buy fresh produce at a local farmer's market and prepare it at home, you'll benefit too.

Studies show that home-cooked meals usually contain fewer calories than takeout or restaurant meals. Also, you're in control of the fat and sugar content of what you eat when you're cooking it yourself.

When you're eating high-quality food, you'll feel satisfied faster and eat less. So if you're starting a diet and feel like eating out, a farm-to-table restaurant is the best option.

6. You Get Peace of Mind

You needn't worry about a thing when you support a farm-to-table outlet.

You can rest assured that your food has passed through fewer hands on its way to you. You won't have to think twice about whether you're harming the environment when you tuck in either.

You can also rest assured that your meal put food on the tables of local farmers and their workers too.

7. Buying Local Benefits Your Community

Supporting your local farmers and shopkeepers has a knock-on effect in your immediate surroundings. When you help grow small businesses, you're ensuring the well-being of everyone around you.

You're making sure your hard-earned cash stays where it can benefit you directly by reducing unemployment, and the crime that goes along with it.

People working together towards a common goal usually forge stronger bonds.

Finding a Farm-to-Table Outlet in Fort Myers

Fortunately, you don't have to go far to enjoy the benefits of fresh, locally-grown produce. Buckingham Farms is proud to offer a wide range of fresh produce and meals from our farm stall and farm-to-table restaurant.

We're also proud to have an excellent rustic events venue on-site, perfect for weddings, parties, and family get-togethers.

Check out of wonderful farm-to-table meals and pop in for a visit at any time.

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7 Health Benefits of Farm-to-Table Meals in Fort Myers, FL | Buckingham Farms

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Are you looking forward to your dinner tonight or are you going to settle for a microwave meal or takeout once again? Studies show that around 75% of Americans eat too few fruits, vegetables, dairy, and healthy oils. This explains the high obesity rates in the USA but a poor diet also has many other severe health consequences.

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This website gives many ideas for a menu, focusing on root and leaf dishes, such as a tossed romaine salad and dried zucchini chips. It also recommends different dishes with the seasons to provide variety.

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16 Farm to Table Menu Ideas for Every Season — Hitchcock Farms

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Farm to table menu ideas increase restaurant sales and deliver business benefits. Engineer your menus with 16 ideas that serve all four seasons.

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This site shows the importance of having many different options for things like greens, carrots, strawberries, and any fresh fruit or vegetable. It also says that if you add things such as boiled eggs and different kinds of meat to a salad it can add nutritional value.

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How to have a farm to table dinner in your backyard {recipes, decor, and more!} - Sweetphi

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How to have a farm to table dinner in your backyard with menu, recipes, decor and more!

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Eating at a farm-to-table restaurant has many benefits for the economy and health. Farm-to-table restaurants allow their customers to enjoy fresh flavors that include natural ingredients, experience better nutrition, support the local economy, and encourage ethical responsibility. Also while eating at a farm-to-table restaurant you can feel confident in knowing where your food came from.

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Heading out for brunch with some friends? Maybe looking for a nice evening out on the town and wondering which restaurant to visit for dinner? No matter where you are, there are sure to be at least a few to choose from. How do you prioritize one over the other? And what criteria should you be looking for that would make you visit one restaurant while skipping another?

There are plenty of criteria you could use. You could evaluate restaurants based on recommendations from friends. You could search for reviews online. You could see if they have a menu online and browse that for dishes that look tasty. Or you could review their practices as a restaurant and see who runs the most ethical, responsible and community-supportive business. In particular, you could look for restaurants that are specifically farm-to-table.

What Is Farm-to-Table?

Even if this is a term you haven't heard of before, it isn't one that's difficult to understand. It's exactly what it sounds like - a restaurant that serves farm-fresh food.

Of course, every restaurant technically serves food from farms. Farm-to-table restaurants take this one step further, however. They're committed to supporting local farms and producers. They're also committed to cutting out the middleman.

Think of large, chain restaurants for example. Many of them purchase their food through suppliers that heavily process the food before it arrives at the restaurant and before it ends up on your plate. While not every large restaurant chain is guilty of this, a great many of them are. Not only does this result in food that's less natural and healthy, but it also fails to support the local farmers in your area.

There are no set criteria that a restaurant must meet to claim that it serves farm-to-table food. In most cases, however, they'll proudly name the farm or farms they receive products from, and it will be a name you recognize. You may even pass the farms as you drive around town every day. Additionally, most farm-to-table restaurants support naturally grown foods, as opposed to ones grown using harmful pesticides or added hormones. If a restaurant claiming to be farm-to-table is not willing to share this information, this may be a reason to doubt their claim.

Is Farm-to-Table More Complicated?

It's true that farm-to-table restaurants typically have a few more hurdles to overcome than other restaurants. Rather than seeing these as obstacles, however, restaurant owners who are passionate about this decision see them merely as challenges to overcome.

In many cases, this means that the menu at a farm-to-table restaurant will likely change with the seasons. Since they aren't importing products from major distributors, they might not have access to apples in the winter, oranges in the summer, or pork in the spring. This is because they're using what's available around them, supporting the local crops and animal products as they're produced, instead of receiving imports from the other side of the country or world.

For many restaurant owners, running a farm-to-table restaurant means more work on their part. They'll need to put in the time and effort to ensure their restaurant, as well as their community partners, are abiding by state and federal laws regarding farming, animal slaughtering, and fishing. They need to ensure that all food is safe and inspected. They need to take the time to develop rock-solid working relationships with local farmers, fishers and more.

Above all, farm-to-table restaurants need to find the time to process their own food. They're receiving nothing but the raw ingredients from their suppliers, meaning that they're the ones doing to work to turn it into delicious food for you. For example, they might get a delivery of cream from the local dairy farm, and it's up to them to turn it into butter.

As you can see, running a farm-to-table restaurant is no easy task. You might wonder, then, why would a chef or a business owner choose to open this type of restaurant? Why not receive their food from mega-suppliers instead, if that's so much easier?

While there are plenty of answers to this question, the simplest one is that a farm-to-table restaurant is much more beneficial to you, the customer.

10 Ways You Experience the Farm-to-Table Difference

The benefits you'll experience when you eat farm-to-table are endless, and there are far too many to list here. For just a start, though, here are our top 10 reasons for eating at a farm-to-table restaurant.

1. Enjoy Fresh Flavors

Have you ever eaten anything only to realize you could tell it had been frozen or packaged? Restaurants are quite adept at covering these tell-tale flavors up with extra bells and whistles. If you frequently eat at major chain restaurants, you might not even notice anymore.

When you eat fresh, however, you'll notice the difference right away. Farm-to-table flavors practically explode in your mouth, bursting with freshness and vibrancy. Restaurants have more freedom to let the flavors stand on their own instead of covering them up in extras. Once you start eating this way, you'll never want to go back to eating processed, artificial flavors.

2. Eat Natural Ingredients

All around us, the news and the media bombard us with horror stories about all the dangers that come with eating heavily processed and chemically produced food. From growth-hormone packed meat to chemically-tainted dairy products, just visiting the grocery store can be scary. Everyone wants to stay healthy and keep their family safe. While that's easy enough to do at home when you're the one cooking, and you know exactly what ingredients you're using, it gets harder when you eat out.

Farm-to-table restaurants eliminate this fear. You can be sure that the ingredients in your meal are locally and responsibly produced. In most cases, these restaurants will actively advertise their suppliers and answer any questions you have about where their ingredients come from. The chances are good that you won't even have to ask, as these places are usually eager to share, and will have information available on their website or at the tables themselves.

3. Experience Better Nutrition

The interesting thing about heavily processed and treated food is that many of us are so used to eating it that we don't even notice it. We grow used to feeling heavy and even sluggish. We're accustomed to periodic stomach pains and intestinal disturbances. Our health suffers, but we barely even notice.

The difference when you start eating fresh foods is unbelievable. Your health will improve, your body will become more alert and active, and all those little pains you barely even noticed because they were so common will start to disappear. This is all thanks to the better nutrition you'll begin to experience as you fuel your body with fresh foods instead of processed ones.

4. Take a Stand for the Environment

There are so many reasons why eating locally-grown food is better for the earth. For starters, your food doesn't need to be transported as far, leading to fewer emissions and less fuel consumed overall. Additionally, you're actively choosing not to support enormous plants and mass producers that spread pesticides and other potentially harmful chemicals. You're also taking a stand against unethical farming practices that harm the earth, the plants, and the animals on it, eventually even us.

5. Support Your Local Economy

These days, it isn't hard to see how more and more industries are being monopolized by giant corporations. Online retailers push out small, local stores. Fast food chains push out local restaurants. And mass food producers across the country may even push out local farmers.

But your money shows your support. When you buy from local businesses, you're giving your money back to your local economy and doing your part to help it flourish. By eating at a local restaurant, you're giving it the money it needs to stay in business and keep serving your community. The restaurant, in turn, can keep supporting local farmers, who can then keep producing delicious and healthy foods for you. The cycle continues, and everyone benefits from it.

6. Be a Good Role Model

Whether or not you're a parent, it's important to remember that children are always watching us. Whether it's your own children, nieces, nephews, cousins, family friends, or just kids who happen to be in the store and see you, they are always watching you, and they look to you for examples of how to behave. If they see you setting a good example in caring for the earth, supporting your friends' and family's local businesses, then these are the kinds of practices they'll subconsciously want to model. In doing this, we can all help do our part to raise a generation of ethical and responsible citizens.

7. Feel Confident in Knowing Where Your Food Came From

We've all seen the video clips, documentaries, and pictures of enormous warehouses and slaughterhouses where chickens are raised in tiny boxes, or where food is being processed in giant vats of slime. With images like these in the backs of our mind, it can be scary to buy packaged food or eat out at a restaurant.

Farm-to-table offers you the advantage of showing where your food comes from. You can feel confident in knowing exactly where your food was sourced, how it was produced, and how it ended up at this restaurant and on your plate.

8. Choose From Huge Varieties of Food

Locally-sourced restaurants get to take advantage of the wide range of crops and livestock being produced nearby. This depends on the specific community, of course, but for most restaurants, this gives them access to fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, fish, dairy products and so much more. None of this variety is sacrificed by choosing locally grown and produced foods, any more than it would be from a bigger restaurant.

9. Take Advantage of Menus That Change With the Seasons

When a restaurant draws its ingredients from the surrounding farmers and producers, this means that they'll largely be dependent on what's available during certain seasons. This can lead to a menu that rotates with the seasons, allowing certain dishes and treats to be available only for limited amounts of time.

While your initial reaction may be to find this irritating, it can also be enjoyable and exciting. Imagine if there was a delicious fall salad that only was available for a few months of the year. Think of what a fun tradition it could be to visit the restaurant at least once during the fall every year to take advantage of the beautiful fresh ingredients as you order this salad. It can be a treat you look forward to all year long.

10. Encourage Ethical Responsibility

Every day, animals are being raised, genetically modified and kept in horrifying conditions around the globe, all in the name of meeting the demands of giant corporations, restaurants, and food suppliers. These practices persist because so many people are unaware of them. Even for people who are aware, they may do nothing because they believe, "I'm just one person. What can I do to change things?"

But the truth is that every one of us has a voice, and has the power to effect change. While one of us might not be able to speak very loudly, together, our voices can become very loud indeed. That's why it's important for you, your neighbors, your family, your friends, and your whole community to stand together and choose restaurants that are sourcing their food ethically and responsibly.

Farm-to-table restaurants may not be a perfect solution to all factory farming problems, but they're a step in the right direction that you can easily take today. When you visit these types of restaurants, you can feel peace and purpose in knowing that your money has let your voice be heard. You've made a choice, and if enough of us continue making that choice, we can make a difference.

Enjoy Fresh Farm-to-Table Flavors at Chisholm's

If you're looking for tasty and healthy farm-to-table restaurants in Wichita, Kansas, stop by Chisholm's American Beef and Ale House today. Here at Chisholm's, we see so many reasons to use local ingredients. Not only do we have some of the best local foods for you to take advantage of, but we also see this as a way to support local businesses right here in Wichita. We're passionate about providing you with the most delicious and healthy dining experience possible, and we see the farm-to-table method as the best way of doing that.

In addition to being your number one locally-sourced restaurant in Wichita, we also take pride in helping you celebrate the history of our area. Our food comes from the land around us, and decorations in the dining room hearken back to the history of the Chisholm Trail, and the atmosphere we create is one of respect and appreciation for this great past.

We aren't content to just be one of the best restaurants in Wichita. We're also committed to being one of the most responsible, healthy and hometown-proud restaurants around. Make your reservation with us today, and see the farm-to-table difference for yourself.

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10 Reasons to Go to Farm-to-Table Restaurants | Chisholm's

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Heading out for brunch with some friends? Maybe looking for a nice evening out on the town and wondering which restaurant to visit for dinner? No matter where you are, there are sure to be at least a few to choose from. How do you prioritize one over the other?

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Healthy Food Healthy Life

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Organic fresh food- Our fresh food is organic and it comes straight from our garden. The organic food has many health benefits and it ensures the customers are confident that their food is fresh.
Locally grown whole food- Most of the food in the restaurant comes from the garden, the grass-fed beef comes from local cow farms.
The restaurant educates the public- Our restaurant promotes locally grown food and local grass-fed beef. While eating at a farm-to-table restaurant you're supporting many local buisnesses.

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Healthy Food, Healthy Life
The menu consists of local grass-fed beef and organic food grown from our garden. Depending on the season the menu will change.
Summer menu: Watermelon, zucchini, oranges, and celery.
Winter menu: Root vegetables, cauliflower,  and broccoli.
Fall menu: Carrots, squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, broccoli, spinach, kale, and celery.
Spring menu: Kiwis, mango, pineapple, and strawberries.
Logo: Our logo is a square with the title of our restaurant inside of it and the slogan at the bottom. Inside the box is also an image of grass.
Logo rough draft: https://www.canva.com/design/DAE2AmnDlW0/3yoS7ByT2wdSgRIHeAodqA/edit

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Our Facebook page will have our logo in the top left corner with the name of our restaurant underneath. The Facebook page will consist of reviews by customers and pictures of our food. The page will also have a run-down of what a farm-to-table restaurant is and the benefits of one. There will also be directions to our restaurant and the times we are open. Our page will also allow people to see events we host for the community. Also the Facebook page will inform the public as to what foods we have depending on the season.