The word "farm-to-table" might signify different things to different people. A farm-to-table approach requires putting "food on the table that came directly from a specific farm, without going through a store, market, or distributor along the way," which can enhance national food security while fostering the growth of a more environmentally and socially responsible food system and supply chain. The farm-to-table movement emerged around at the same time when attitudes toward food safety, food freshness, food seasonality, and small-farm economics began to change. Farm to table food path concerns the procedures and circumstances under which food is grown, prepared, and consumed in order to provide food security, a balanced diet, and good health.
From farm to the table, the food chain is complete, because it covers food production, food distribution, as well as food consumption and nutrient utilization. Each stage of the food path is connected to or related to the others. A community food system advocates for increased local food production of a variety of foods, increased local markets for those commodities, more local processing, and increased direct interactions between farmers and customers. It encourages environmentally sound, socially just, and long-term economically viable farming operations. No matter what their income level, everyone should be able to get high-quality, locally farmed food. In the process, family-scale agriculture will be revitalized, and urban customers will be reconnected to their food and their rural neighbors
Any element, occurrence, or circumstance that can prevent, delay, or stop the flow of food might be considered a block to the food path. Families with a shorter food path are those who grow their own food, whereas those with a longer food path are those who purchase their own food.
PDO I Ayesa Gay A. Bejerano, RND
References:
The meaning of farm to table
https://www.thespruceeats.com/farm-to-table-2216574
Farm to table: Food system
https://kerrcenter.com/sustainable-ag-food/farm-table-food-systems/
