You may have been hearing the term “farm to table”more and more these days. But what does it mean? Farm to table simply means that the food that is served comes directly from the source of its production, not through an intermediary. Imagine being able to know exactly where the food you eat comes from, without having to wonder. We’re here to show you how to eat local in Southwest Florida, taking advantage of the bounties of scrumptious local fare we get to enjoy in our own paradise.
From the Sea
We’re fortunate enough that we get to live in an area where fresh seafood is plentiful. Southwest Florida is home to many varieties of sea life that make for an enjoyable dining experience, including:
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Snapper
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Grouper
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Snook
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Mahi Mahi
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Oysters
There’s nothing better than seafood that is freshly caught right out the ocean and prepared with minimal downtime. Seafood is a popular option at many restaurants, since there are so many ways to prepare it, including blackening, grilling or frying it. And it can be paired with fresh, local greens for a light, nutritious meal, full of essential vitamins and minerals.
Locally-Grown Produce
You can’t beat being able to pick your own produce to serve with a meal. The perfect complement to virtually any meal is a freshly prepared vegetable, and Florida’s climate allows for ample production of vegetables, like lettuce, cucumbers and green peppers. Other produce that thrives in our sub-tropical climate includes:
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Mangoes
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Bananas
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Oranges
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Papayas
The ability to have these items at our fingertips is unmatched. With proper cultivation and care, you too could start your own backyard garden, filled with delicious and nutritious locally-grown produce.
Benefits of Eating Local
Aside from convenience, there are many other benefits to eating locally-grown items. Locally-grown foods tend to have way more flavor than their store-bought competitors. This is due to the crops being picked at the peak of ripeness, often times having been picked mere hours before being purchased. Locally-grown food is also seasonal, which means that you can enjoy the foods that are at their very best flavor for that particular part of the year. Some fruits and vegetables, during certain months, are flown in from other states, often picked before ripeness, which results in a lower quality product. Eating local also helps to support our economy and helps maintain our precious farmland.
Eating Local in Southwest Florida
There’s no doubt about it…eating local here in Southwest Florida is not only simple, it’s delicious! With our plentiful seafood offerings and ample crops, we have it made when it comes to local fare. Enjoy better food, made with fresher ingredients by choosing to eat local. Farm to table is easy to adopt, and you’ll thank yourself for incorporating this into your cooking style. Eat better. Live better. Enjoy what our area has to offer.
Here at Crave Culinaire, we pride ourselves on choosing to utilize our locally-grown food supply in the meals that we design. Get started with us on your next event, call (239) 292-1529 or visit www.craveculinaire.com.
