A slogan at The Southern Salad touts its "Clean Greens in the Dirty South." Scroll to the bottom of the Augusta restaurant's website, and you'll see this suggestion: "Know where your food comes from." It's an idea that's growing in popularity with many a menu item now being served with a side of information on the source of key ingredients.
"Customers want to know where their food comes from, and they're valuing the taste of locally grown, locally sourced products," says Rebecca van Loenen.
She's the director of Augusta Locally Grown, a virtual farmers market that promotes small farmers and the food they grow, which is often tastier, healthier, and more eco-friendly than what's bought on store shelves.
"All around, it's just a better, more rewarding eating experience for the local customer," van Loenen said.
Some restaurants incorporate these ingredients in their dishes, offering customers menu options including more flavorful lettuce or pink grits. But where do these ingredients come from? Turns out that Augusta diners are enjoying farm-to-table foods from as far as Edisto Island and Anderson in South Carolina, as well as closer to home in Hephzibah and Bartow in Georgia.
Read the complete article at www.eu.augustachronicle.com.