Field & Fork Network
Field & Fork Network is a non-profit organization working toward developing new economic opportunities for farmers and artisan producers in the 8 counties of Western New York. Through networking, consumer outreach and education, and a focus on integrating local food purchasing into public policy, Field & Fork Network’s goal is to build a local food system in Western New York that functions as an economic driver for our region.
With nearly 8,000 farms in Western New York and an exceptionally diverse range of crops, livestock and value-added products available to us nearly year round, Western New York is primed to embrace the farm-to-table movement in its restaurants and in its homes. Field & Fork Network is proud to be leading the charge for the local food movement with their corporate and agency partners. Through the successful annual Farmer-Chef Conference, speaking engagements, food-oriented events, and educational programming, Western New York went from having one or two farm-to-table restaurants in 2008, to having more than a dozen chefs and restaurant owners committed to offering local food on their menus in 2009. These chefs now work as partners with local farmers to provide their guests with healthy, sustainably-raised produce and meats. The best of them have farmers raising livestock and produce specifically to meet the needs of their kitchens.
Field & Fork Network unveiled an official membership program allowing chefs, farmers, food distributors and markets the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to local food while utilizing the network to source specific ingredients from the treasure trove of lush fruit and produce, noteworthy wines, heritage, grass-fed or pasture-raised meats and artisan value-added products available in and around WNY.
You can find more information about Field & Fork Network by locating them on Facebook, or by visiting their website at http://www.fieldandforknetwork.com
