Neighbor News
Farm to Fork and Where to Find It
Local Girl Scout Troop 1467 explores a fascinating food movement.
Note: this article is the project that Girl Scout Troop 1467 chose to do as part of the Girl Scout ‘Sow What’ Journey where girls have the opportunity to explore food sources, impact on the environment, and consider ways to effect change as a result of what they learned.
When you go to a restaurant, you think about the food. Maybe you have to decide on what you are going to eat this time, or even if you are able to eat it. You might think about the taste, or the texture, or even the look of it. However, do you ever think about WHERE your food comes from?
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Farm to Fork (or Farm to Table) is something that will help you do just that. What is Farm to Fork? It’s a movement that is rapidly spreading through the country. The concept of this movement is for those participating to only consume food that is locally produced, or within a 100 mile radius.
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By consuming locally produced food, you can cut down on the amount of energy needed to transfer your food to your plate; therefore, decreasing your carbon footprint. Carbon footprint is one’s overall impact of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It can be affected positively by cutting down your use of technology that uses harmful sources of energy, such as gasoline. For example, taking the bus to school or work instead of driving decreases the amount of cars that are on the roads every day, which leads to a decrease in overall air pollution. In regards to food, the transfer of food from one side of the country to the other, or even from another country, creates a lot of pollution. A lot of the food you buy from grocery stores has traveled many miles to be there. However, if you buy food from a local farmer’s market or farm, all food at those establishments was produced close to you. This causes significantly less pollution and decreases your carbon footprint.
We interviewed one farmer who provides several types of meat to Fireworks Pizza, a local Farm to Fork restaurant in Leesburg.
Q: What is the difference between local meats and the ones that are delivered from far away?
A: The meats far away won’t be as fresh as the meats that are local. Also by purchasing local meats you, are buying from a small independent farm versus a big industrial one.
Q: What is the process of making the Italian sausage that’s used at Fireworks Pizza?
A: (They make their sausage by hand.)You break down cuts of meat, like pork shoulders and blend to create the sausage.
Q: Is there a difference in taste?
A: Yes, local meats taste better than shipped meats.
Q: What is the best time to buy meat?
A: Every week
Q: Why do you think it’s important for people to buy locally?
A: It is important for local economy, and supports small farms like me.
Our troop was also able to review a few local restaurants. We visited and ate a meal at each of the three following restaurants: Clyde’s Willow Creek, Old Ebbitts Grill, and Fireworks pizza. They are all farm to fork restaurants with a variety of delicious foods on their menu and we highly recommend them.
CLYDE’S WILLOW CREEK
Clyde’s Willow Creek in Ashburn is a restaurant that is located in an old farmhouse and as soon as you enter the building, it feels like you are stepping back in time. The whole restaurant has a very rustic feel about it and the food is delicious. We have been able to try breakfast, lunch and dinner there, all of which are immensely enjoyable. The wait staff are incredibly kind and always ready to list the farms their food come from. As our waitress eagerly explained to us, all their beef is organic and grass fed, and the crabs are brought in live from the Chesapeake Bay. The chickens also come from nearby Shenandoah. And of course, they get most of their vegetables and herbs from the farm right behind the restaurant. The food is great, however it can be a little pricey.
OLD EBBITT GRILL
Old Ebbitt Grill is a restaurant that is part of the Clyde’s chain. It is located in Washington D.C. and it is only a couple blocks away from the White House. Just like Clyde’s Willow Creek, Old Ebbitt has a lot of history around it although it does feel more like a traditional restaurant. It is a very nice restaurant and we were able to try their breakfast and lunch. Both were delicious. The wait staff were very kind and the menus had a brief history of the restaurant and the area. It is a welcoming place with a very nice feel to it. The only signs of age are the beautifully worn-down marble stairs that lead to the lower level. We loved Old Ebbitt Grill and we highly recommend it.
FIREWORKS
Fireworks Pizza is is a farm-to-fork restaurant in Leesburg that is perfect for all occasions. They have nice service and were very accomodating for us as we did have a group of twelve. It is a great family friendly restaurant with outdoor seating when the weather is nice. It also has a bar and some televisions around which makes it perfect for watching sports. It is easy to tell that their mouth-watering pizza is fresh and handmade from the crust to the toppings. The only things to note is that the restaurant is popular at dinner time, so making a reservation is definitely helpful. Also, seeing as how the food is freshly made, it can take a little bit longer for it to be served.
Below is a list of some local farm to fork-friendly restaurants, as well as their addresses and websites.
Clyde’s Willow Creek
(571) 209-1200
https://clydes.com/willow-creek-farm
42920 Broadlands Blvd, Broadlands, VA 20148
Old Ebbit Grill
(703) 779-8400
https://www.fireworkspizza.com/
201 Harrison St SE, Leesburg, VA 20175
The Wine Kitchen
(703) 777-9463
http://www.thewinekitchen.com/
7 S King St, Leesburg, VA 20175
Farmers Fishers Bakers
(703) 988-7333
https://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/locations/reston/
1904 Reston Metro Plaza Drive, Reston, VA 20190
P.F. Changs
(703) 443-4286
19890 Belmont Chase Dr #135, Ashburn, VA 20147
In conclusion, Farm to Fork is an eco-friendly, delicious way to eat healthier, while supporting local businesses. So grab a fork and the menu, and enjoy your dining experiences – our Girl Scout troop certainly did!
Photo Credits: Willowsford Farm Facebook Page
