If you’re concerned about where your food comes from, you’re not alone. More diners are looking for ways to make better choices and find more ethical sources for the foods they love, and many eateries have noticed. If you’re looking for sustainable restaurants, our website can help you find establishments that prioritize ethical sourcing, but in the meantime, you can follow the top tips on learning about sourcing from the Organic Restaurants blog.

Find Local Food Sources

One of the best ways to source ethically is to source locally. In these cases, you can know exactly where your food is coming from. Go to a farmer’s market, if there’s one nearby, and build up relationships with local farmers and other vendors. You might be able to buy the items you need from these food producers all year round, instead of opting for a mass-produced alternative that may not be ethically sourced.

You can also look into food co-ops and CSAs. A co-op generally forms to meet the food demands of a community that the local grocery stores simply are not meeting. With CSAs or community-supported agriculture, you pay upfront to buy “shares” in a local farm. Then, at the end of a season, you receive a box full of fresh produce and other locally sourced items.

Consult the USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a lot of information about where certain ingredients are sourced from. For example, they can tell you which strawberries came from small farms in California or which catfish were sustainably fished up by Maine fishermen. If you want to know where your food comes from, this government agency can be helpful.

Grow Some Ingredients of Your Own

If you have the space for it, growing some ingredients of your own is a great idea. Herbs like basil leaves can make for great additions to certain recipes, and anyone with a bigger backyard can grow a bunch of vegetables with the right supplies and climate. Some people even choose to raise their own chickens! That’s one good way to make sure that you never run out of fresh eggs.

If you’re a restaurant that can grow or cultivate some of its own ingredients, even better. This can be a huge selling point for diners who want to source ethically and eat locally. It can be worth the effort if you’re looking for a way to stand out from other local eateries.

Opt for Organic Ingredients When Possible

If you can’t find something locally, look for the organic option whenever you can. Organic fruits and vegetables are held to a higher standard. You can also look for more eco-friendly meat options, like grass-fed beef, but cutting down on meat consumption, in general, is advised if you’re concerned about the food industry, ethical food sourcing, and the environment in general.

Learn More About Sustainable Eating

If you want to learn about ethical sourcing, vegetarian foods, or local restaurants, visit the Organic Restaurants website. We can help you find like-minded restaurateurs and delicious food that you’ll feel good about ordering.