FARM TO TABLE DINING EXPERIENCE
Organic food is more appetizing than conventional food
If a restaurant offers conventional food, organic savvy consumers know that they’re also getting a meal that may contain pesticides, excess chemicals, additives, hormones and antibiotics and possibly even a heaping helping of sewage sludge. Certified organic food, by law, must be free of all the above ick factors, which, you have to admit, makes organic food vastly more appetizing than conventional food.
Organic food allows for a creative menu
While more and more organic foods are readily available, organic restaurants and their chefs must maintain a unique sense of creativity in order to keep the menu fresh and costs down. Most organic restaurant owners learn fairly quickly that the best way to keep costs low and food fresh is to go organic and local. That said, not all foods are available all year round locally, or even nationally in organic form, so the menu must change to accommodate the seasons. While cooking with the seasons and product availability can be a challenge, it’s also an excellent opportunity to try new dishes, and it keeps the menu fresh and exciting for patrons.
Organic food options are varied
It used to be hard to get a simple organic salad when dining out. Now restaurants have a massive selection of certified organic food products to choose from. Organic chefs can now find year-round organic fruits and vegetables, pasta, baking goods, organic chocolate, honey, cheese, and many other organic products, including an impressive organic wine and spirits list. Plus, organic no longer means “greens.” Organic meats are widely available, from poultry to beef to lamb and much more. See what’s available in certified organic foods.
Organic food is growing in popularity
Organic food trends show that organic foods are growing in popularity. Organic, which used to be a novelty term, is now much more mainstream, and consumers are getting savvy about their organic food purchases. One consumer survey found that 41% of parents are buying more organic foods than a year ago. Another large survey notes that over half of adults say they’ll choose organic food over conventional foods. Most importantly for business owners, organics are here to stay. Current surveys show that once an organic consumer converts, they rarely go back to buying conventional, even when money is tight. When consumers are this passionate about organic food, restaurants can safely get on board with organics as well.