Local sourcing
“This generation is the food-savviest generation ever,” Wood says. “People want to know where their food is coming from.” This desire is what’s behind the consumer-fueled farm-to-table trend that’s showing up with more frequency on catering menus. To ensure kitchens can produce the volume of food needed with seasonal, local ingredients, smart venues and chefs are forging relationships with local farms and working with the farmers to decide what will be planted so they can plan their menus in advance.
A side benefit of using locally sourced food is that it reduces the need for transportation, which reduces the event’s carbon footprint. Trendsetters are going niche with this trend too, focusing on locally crafted cheeses, beers, wines, ciders — even things that may be foraged from the wild.