Taking a bite with America's new Farm-to-Fork Capital

You may have seen social media posts proclaiming Sacramento as America’s Farm to Fork Capital, experienced the local food movement at one of your favorite neighborhood restaurants, or even showed up to eat, drink and be merry at the now-annual Sacramento Farm-to-Fork Month celebrations every September.

But the whole idea goes back to 2012 when Josh Nelson of the Selland Family Restaurants came to the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau with an idea that we should highlight all of the incredible fresh, local food being grown and served in Sacramento. The idea took off and not long after, Mayor Kevin Johnson declared the greater Sacramento region the new Farm-to-Fork Capital of America.

No matter if you’re a serious Foodie, the most health-conscious Vegan, or just someone who loves tasty grub, there is something for everyone in America’s new gastronomical mecca. Here are 25 facts about our new designation as the Farm to Fork Capital:

1. The Sacramento region includes about 1.5 million acres of farms growing more than 120 individual crops. In fact, 70 percent of the Sacramento region’s land is agricultural, forest or other open spaces.

2.     California is the largest agricultural producer in the entire U.S., and Sacramento is the capital both for governance and food production, too.

3.     In fact, no other major metropolitan city in the U.S. enjoys such an abundance of farms, ranches and vineyards within such a close radius.

4.     Local restaurants and eateries have long used all of this freshly grown regional food, creating a Farm-to-Fork experience for patrons.

5.     Since everything is fresh and locally sourced, the menu will change with the seasons as different food is grown.

6.     Thanks to a climate that’s dry and hot in the summer but wet in the winter, Sacramento has a year-round growing season and is often compared to the growing conditions in Mediterranean countries.

7.     Aside from supplying amazing food for all of our local restaurants, Sacramento is home to more than 40 farmers markets - including the largest California Certified Farmers’ Market in the entire state.

8.     It also happens to be the most ethnically diverse farmers market in the country, both in the produce and food offered and the customer demographics.

9.     Sacramento produce and agricultural products are shipped all over the world. In fact, if you’re eating sushi anywhere in the U.S there’s a good chance the rice comes from Sacramento. Believe it or not, Japan consumes more Sacramento-grown rice than its own domestically grown rice!

10. Our City of Trees is also a world leader for domestic caviar production, with 80 percent of domestic caviar farmed right here in Sacramento before it ends up at some of the finest restaurants across the globe.

11. California also supplies 80 percent of the world’s almonds, and Blue Diamond right here in Sacramento is the largest almond grower in the world.

12. Where is Sacramento “hiding” all of these great farms? Amador County has 50 wineries, El Dorado Hills has 100 farms, ranches and wineries, Placer County has an astounding 1,200 small farms, Sutter County has more than 300,000 acres of farmland, 60 percent of Yuba County is agricultural land, and Yolo County features UC Davis as an innovator in food production science and many food distribution operations in West Sacramento. 

13. But it’s not just food that is taking off in the region, with countless award-winning local coffee houses and a seriously burgeoning beer scene. Sacramento now has more than 40 craft breweries, many of them featuring locally farmed ingredients.

14. Sacramento celebrates all of this edible excellence with an annual Farm-to-Fork Month celebration every September. For a couple of weeks, there are daily restaurant specials, farm dinners, street fairs, tastings, interactive chef experiences and a host of other great events.

15. It all wraps up with the Farm-to-Fork Festival in late September, a day where local restaurants, coffee houses, food trucks, farmers, wineries, and breweries come together to celebrate, entertain, and especially, feed, Sacramento residents.

16. Last year’s Farm-to-Fork Festival attracted over 50,000 people and its popularity is expected to grow by leaps and bounds every year as the street festival keeps expanding to more and more city blocks. This year, the final gala was held September 25 on the iconic Tower Bridge, where almost 1,000 people sat and enjoyed a meal created by Sacramento’s top farmers and chefs together.

17. But the Farm-to-Fork Monthly Celebration isn’t just about indulging one’s own pallet, but also education, awareness and responsible food practices. In fact, the September celebration included a food drive hosted by the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. In all, more than 170,000 lbs. of fresh produce was donated to food-insecure people in Sacramento, generating 142,000 meals that fed 16,000 people for three days.

18. Even though another September has passed, there are still plenty of ways to participate in and enjoy Sacramento’s Farm-to-Fork renaissance.

19. Local Roots Food Tours offers culinary walking trips and a Market-to-Plate Executive Chefs Tour. Sac Brew Bike and Off the Chain is for those that want to pedal as they sip, there’s nonstop wine tasting at vineyards around the region, and visitors can even order off a specialty Farm-to-Fork menu and have it delivered to many area hotels.

20. Or you can just visit one of Sacramento’s many iconic restaurants year-round to sample their locally grown cuisine, like Sellands, Ella Dining Room & Bar, Mulvaney’s B&L, Waterboy, The Kitchen Restaurant, and many others!

30 Delicious facts about the U.S. restaurant industry.

How often do you eat meals at restaurants, cafeterias, coffee shops, fast food drive-throughs or even food trucks? If you’re like most Americans, you very well could be eating the majority of your meals outside of the home as busier schedules, more hours at work, running errands, and activities, an increase in discretionary income, and less stay-at-home spouses add up to more people eating at restaurants than ever before. 

Here are 30 facts about the US restaurant industry you might find interesting:

The restaurant industry by the numbers:

1. As of the spring of 2015, there were 630,511 restaurants in the U.S. – or 1 for every 504 people!

2. Of those, about 37 percent, or 232,611, are fast food establishments and restaurants, bringing in $191 billion and paying out $47 billion in wages every year.

3. The restaurant industry is so big that it exerts significant law-making power, with 304 food and beverage lobbyists in 2015, together spending more than $17 million. 

That sum is just an appetizer compared to the record more than $57 million spent in 2009. Coca Cola and Pepsi were the strongest political lobbyists, with more than $7.5 million in campaign and political contributions between them

4. In fact, the NRA (National Restaurant Association) is the biggest and strongest umbrella organization for food and beverage servers in the U.S., founded in 1919 and now representing more than 380,000 restaurants. 

5. A popular and often-used statistic is that 90 percent of restaurants go out of business in their first year – originally floated during an American Express commercial. However, that is just a myth. 

6. In fact, about 60 of restaurants do not make it past their first year - only slightly higher than the attrition rate for all first-year business failings, but 80 percent do go under within five years. 

Employment:

7. Restaurant employees in 2015 reached 14 million, almost one in ten people!

8. The restaurant workforce makes up approximately 10 percent of the overall US workforce. 

9. It is forecasted that there will be a huge rise in the number of people employed in the U.S. restaurant industry and that by 2025 it will reach a whopping 15.72 million with 1.7 million opportunities becoming available.

10. In 2013, employees were asked if they were proud of their role within the restaurant industry. 

11. Contrary to popular thoughts, 54 percent of those surveyed said they were proud to work in the restaurant industry. Only three percent stated that they we’re not happy in their jobs. 

12. Approximately 50 percent of all adults got their first job experience in a restaurant or have worked in the industry at some point during their lives.

13. Seven in ten of those who do currently work in the restaurant industry say they will until they retire.

14. Eight in ten restaurant owners started their industry careers at entry-level positions like dishwashers, busboys, and servers, and worked their way up the ladder.

Eating out:

15. The average American eats on average 4.2 commercially prepared meals per week. As a nation, eating out between four and five times a week, on average. This number equates to 18.2 meals in an average month eaten outside the home.

16. In 2008, the number of meals purchased at a restaurant within the United States was 207 per person. In 2001 there was an all time high of 211 meals per person and in 2011 only 194 meals per person – all numbers that reflect the economy at the time.

17. According to the Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, the food away from home category amounted to 42 percent of expenditures outside the house in 2012.

18. 69 percent of consumers said they are more likely to eat at a restaurant that offers locally produced food items.

19. When it comes to lunch money, there are some big differences between how men and women dine. According to a Visa survey, the amount that is spent on eating out at lunch is higher for men. In fact, men outspend their female counterparts by 44 percent, an average $21 compared to $14 for women. 

Sales and revenue:

20. On a typical day the restaurant industry can reach $1.9 billion in sales. 

21. By the end of 2015, total yearly sales in the restaurant industry are expected to hit a record high of $709.2 billion. 

22. These numbers are still considered reasonably low, considering we’re six years removed from the recession. Still, that reflects the greater trend of Americans eating out much more than in past generations. In fact, in 1970 – the first year revenue data was collected – the restaurant sales only reached $42.8 billion.

23. Each person in our country spend $2,500 eating out every year on average according to the USDA, which comes to $208 per month or $48 per week. 

24. Many restaurants make the largest portion of their profits on beverages! In fact, the gross margin for food is around 60 percent, but restaurants charge $2.50 or more for a soda that costs them pennies. 

25. Their mark up on alcohol and wine is just as high, typically 200-600 percent or more. In fact many restaurants list one or two very expensive bottles of wine on their menus not because they think someone will order them, but just to make the mid-range bottles appear more affordable. 

26. At any restaurant, the food items that yield the highest profit margins are usually pastas and pizzas, both costing the restaurant only $1.50-$2.50 to produce, but charging their customers $10-$15. 

Fascinating restaurant trivia:

27. At 1,075 feet high and offering 360-degree panoramic views of the city, The Mid-America Club in Downtown Chicago, is the tallest restaurant in the States, and tenth highest in the world.

28. The Union Oyster House in Boston is America's oldest restaurant, opening its doors in 1826. Union Street itself was first laid out in 1636 and the building that the Oyster House occupies goes back to the 1700s, and a future French king once lived on the second floor above the now-Oyster House.

29. The Japanese restaurant, Masa in New York City was quoted in January 2015, as being the most expensive in America.  With each person looking at a cost of $450 (and that’s before tip.) And…if you decide last minute to change your plans and cancel your booking you will face a charge of $200.  

30. The biggest eating out day Valentines Day $8 billion, followed by Mothers Day.