Podcast: Play in new window | Download
This week’s Around Atlanta guests on Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio are Dale DeSensa, president and founder of Taste of Atlanta, and Ryan Costigan with the Georgia Restaurant Association. Together, these two organizations have collaborated to create Georgia’s Edible Agricultural Tour, also known as EAT GA.
EAT GA is a dining program that aims to support the Georgia Grown program through unique dinner events that teach patrons how important it is to use local produce from Georgia’s farms. These fun, educational dinners help consumers learn from local chefs and farmers while enjoying delicious farm-to-table fare. At an event, the guest or in-house chef will introduce a dish. While attendees are dining on it, the farmer that sourced the dish’s main vegetable will tell their story, from the process of growing the vegetable to what it means to be a local farmer. This allows diners to truly understand where their food comes while they’re eating it. In addition, EAT GA is a nonprofit organization, so all proceeds that remain from each event after all expenses have been paid are donated to local food banks.
So far this year, EAT GA has hosted six events, including those in Athens, Savannah, Thomasville and Atlanta. The next event will be held at Kennesaw State University, which has a great sustainability program and its own farm, Hickory Grove. Each dinner event is different, with the chefs and farmers having control over the menu and which vegetables will be showcased. The KSU event in particular will bring local restaurateurs and farmers in to host a dinner using a variety of the items grown right on campus.
The EAT GA organization was created in the wake of the popular farm-to-table, locally grown movement in an effort to support Georgia’s restaurants. More and more restaurants are looking to provide local foods and fresher ingredients for their diners, and this event highlights those possibilities and teaches everyone involved how to support local farmers.
The Edible Agriculture Tour is an inclusive program, and Dale and Ryan heartily encourage anyone that has a food-related mission to get involved. The more people that participate in or partner with the program, the better the outcome will be for everyone in the state – restaurants, chefs, farmers and diners alike.
To learn more about the Edible Agricultural Tour, listen to the full podcast above,
____________________________________________________________
The “Around Atlanta” segment is designed to showcase the best of metro Atlanta – the communities, attractions and special events that make this city great. To submit your event, community or attraction to the Around Atlanta edition of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio, contact 770-383-3360.
Please download and subscribe to all of the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcasts on iTunes. If you like this week’s show, be sure to rate it.