As the word “artisanal” regains its foothold in the US food vocabulary, it is crucial to know where these delicious treats originate. Researching local farmers and trying new recipes is a great way to support clean eating.
What is Farm to Table?
In its purest form, farm-to-table refers to restaurants that forge relationships with local farmers and feature their products on the menu. Chefs may cite the farms on which they source their ingredients or even cook at the farm, as with outstanding in-the-field dinners (a fundraising event).
The movement promotes food security and sustainable agriculture, which benefits the local economy and ecology. It also encourages community-building and sustainability, including a sense of ownership and pride in one’s local community.
Increasingly, the term is used in marketing and advertising to describe restaurants that use locally sourced ingredients. However, it’s important to note that any government body or organization does not regulate the farm-to-table concept. As such, many restaurants claim to be farm-to-table even though they don’t indeed follow the philosophy. It makes the movement prone to fraud.
What are Artisan Food Products?
The term artisan has become a buzzword. People use it to refer to products made from traditional recipes using local ingredients. Some large companies use it as a marketing tool to co-opt the premium experience of artisanal food, but the term is only sometimes used correctly.
Artisan goods are made in small quantities and follow traditional recipes. They are often free from nasties like preservatives, coloring, and chemicals, which makes them a healthier alternative. It is the biggest draw for many consumers.
Consumers also buy artisan foods for their superior taste and premium ingredients. They want to support the local economy and eat more natural, organic foods. And they are willing to pay more for these items. Millennials are driving this trend, as they have enormous buying power. Unlike other generations, they are drawn to handmade and locally grown food products. It is because they value individuality and prefer one-of-a-kind products.
How is Artisan Food Products Made?
Many products, such as bread, cheeses, fruit preserves, cured meats, Coffee & Specialty Drinks, can be considered artisanal. According to a report, what sets artisan products apart is their handmade nature, following traditional methods and limited production runs. They support the farm-to-fork model and don’t contain any preservatives, colorants, sweeteners, or thickeners.
Food artisans create their products and are intimately involved in the process, from sourcing ingredients to crafting the final product. It often translates into higher prices because more experience is required to produce these goods.
While some aspects of production have been mechanized, like labeling, temperature monitoring, and bottle filling, she is involved in the entire process, including inspecting each vanilla bean bundle by hand.
Where is Artisan Food Products Made?
Often artisan products are made from recipes that feature few artificial products, chemicals, or preservatives. It makes them healthier than many other food products. They also tend to be made locally, reducing the carbon footprint associated with their production.
Artisan foods are generally small-batch premium and use organic or local ingredients. They also typically follow traditional cooking methods, which means they are handmade and have a more rustic feel than mass-produced products.
Manufacturers who slap the “artisan” label on their food products are riding a wave of consumer demand for more wholesome, organic, and natural foods and beverages. But the term is used by many companies, including large food makers and fast food chains. Ultimately, consumers must do homework to determine which brands use the term authentically. They must read labels and look for a clear, simple, and easy-to-understand ingredient list.