Gardens Sprout Up Among Independent Restaurants As Part Of “Eat Local” Movement

The National Restaurant Association says a third of 2,000 members polled recently said they have signed on to the “eat local food” movement by planting gardens to produce their own vegetables. The poll results suggest that restaurant gardens are a hot trend in the restaurant industry and is likely to gather steam, because growing produce costs restaurants less than buying it and having it shipped, gives them more quality control and allows them to use locally grown foods. An NRA representative said independent restaurants are more likely to plant gardens because they have more seasonal menu flexibility. Most start small, growing a few basics, but then expand. A restaurant in Michigan, for example, eventually tripled the size of its garden, expanding from tomatoes to include squash, peppers, etc.