The number one issue in the recent elections was blatantly obvious: economics, economics, economics. Everyone has their sights set on building a strong economy, first in the local community and then in the country as a whole. By dining at your local organic restaurant, you can do a lot of good to support the small businesses that are vital to the economy.
Organic farms top the list of businesses backed by organic restaurants. Many organic farms are small and often family-owned. Nationwide, small organic farms total more than 2.6 million acres of farmland and employ more than one million agricultural workers. By using these farmers’ organic produce for most food supplies, organic restaurants help small farmers invest $ 28 billion in the American economy each year. (Source: USDA).
Many of these small organic farms rely on restaurant buyers for a significant percentage of their income. To keep the freshest ingredients in their kitchen, organic restaurants purchase their produce directly from local organic farmers, often placing a standing order at the farm for selected produce. These orders not only guarantee income for the farmer, his family and his employees, but can even serve as collateral for loans needed to pay for seeds or repair equipment.
Sometimes an entire farming community benefits from their food at an organic restaurant. Simple lifestyle or religious communities, such as the Amish, produce organic products by default because organic farming practices correspond to their belief system. Organic restaurants then buy these products, helping to support the community. Both the restaurant and the community benefit from this relationship: the restaurant has easy access to fresh organic ingredients, and the community has a steady source of income.
Organic restaurants are also a strong market for organic beer and wine producers. Most organic wineries are small operations, growing all of their own grapes and bottling their wine on site. Small bottlings mean that wine merchants in large markets often do not sell the product, even if the quality is outstanding. Instead, many organic wineries rely on organic restaurants to help market and sell their great wines.
Similarly, many organic beer bottlers create smaller beers thanks to a more limited supply of certified organic ingredients and a smaller market for their finished product. These small breweries need organic restaurant orders to keep bills paid and doors open.
Organic restaurants also support many small businesses that produce inedible products. Natural paper products, plant-based cleaning supplies, and recycling services are used to keep the restaurant clean; local artisans create works of art for decoration.
By doing nothing but dining at your local organic restaurant, you can support a wide variety of small businesses. It also provides income to thousands of families in its local community and across the country. Who knew you could do so much good with just one bite?
