Farmers. Wineries, Farm to Table-A Way to Keep the Family Farm in Business While Promoting Local Sustainability

What a wonderful idea-farmers starting farm to table cafes.  Whether its for 1 night a week, or several nights a week, this is a wonderful way to get local food to people who want to know where there food is coming from.

This is an exceptional idea that works on many levels:
 1. Consumers know where the food is coming from
 2. People get to support not only a local business, but a local farmer AND get a night out.
 3. Farmers make money
 4. Farmers get their name and product out there so that local grocers and local chefs learn who they are
 5. Local farms stay in business
 6. and many more!


NPR recently had published and article about family farms starting up "pizza night" to attract more costumers.
The basic point was that many farmers are struggling to make ends meet and are being more and more creative to make ends meet. Farms in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa are offering these "pizza nights" through the growing season and using farm fresh vegetables and farm raised meat as staples.

In my local area, Wayne County, NY, Lagoner Farms started the CSAs (consumer supported agriculture) about 3 years ago for both a spring/summer package and a fall/winter package. This summer they started a café with food from their own farm and the local sustainable farming community. This is also apple country, so local hard cider is soon to come. Lagoner's is one of New York State's Century farms and it is now being run by the 5th generation of Lagoners. With the bakery, ice cream shop, FTD florist, CSAs and now the Café, I am hopeful they will continue for many more years.

Monroe and Wayne Counties in NYS are also on the western edge of what we "upstaters" call the Finger Lakes Region.
The big tourist attractions are the lakes, camping, and the wineries. Even some of the wineries have their own cafes, offering local dishes as well as their own wines.

I'm going to repeat myself-what a wonderful idea. I love the day trip option that is going to increase tourism, bring quality, local food to more people, AND keep another family farm in business.



http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/08/19/427432403/family-farms-turn-to-pizza-to-connect-with-new-customers
http://www.lagonerfarmscsa.com/cafe/

http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com/listings/veraisons-restaurant-at-the-inn-at-glenora/470/
http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com/listings/the-blue-heron-caf%c3%a9-at-heron-hill/1422/