Home Grown: Farm Fresh Forks, putting local produce on the table

YUMA, Ariz. (KSWT, KYMA, KECY) - If you have been looking for an excuse to experience local produce, there is an event coming allowing you to do just that.

For this week’s Home Grown, I’ll give you a sneak peek at the Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association’s event: Farm Fresh Forks.

This week kicks off the program’s first-ever "Restaurant Week.

Participating restaurants include Crouse's Flat Top Grill, The Patio, Takos and Beer, The Patio, Mostly Muffins, The Garden Cafe, and Ironwood Steakhouse.

“The current event right now is the Farm Fresh Forks restaurant week. It started Monday through Saturday the Farm Fresh Forks restaurants, there are six of them, highlighting different Fresh Forks menu which incorporates fresh produce in different ways. Our 12-week program starts in January. So in January every week is different and two different products from that grower, or two different vegetables for the six restaurants and each of the chefs are going to make something different and the tastings are complementary,” said Kristan Sheppeard, coordinator of Farm Fresh Forks program with Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association.

Takos and Beer was the first restaurant featured for the week-long event.

“Since day one when we started Farm Fresh Forks, I’ve been involved in trying to highlight the produce of Yuma and showcase what we can do as chefs, and get other chefs involved,” said  Eddie Guzman, chef at Takos and Beer.

Guzman said that he aims to include menu items that highlight local produce.

“What separates a good chef from a great chef, it starts with great quality. Working directly with growers especially here, every chef should be proud of working here in Yuma in this community, and being able to work directly with growers to be able to get that fresh produce,” said Guzman.

For example, the Farm Fresh Forks item at Takos and Beer is a wedge salad, featuring locally grown produce. 

“This week we are promoting Romaine with pickled onions, Romaine vinaigrette, and radishes,” said Guzman.

Matt McGuire, Chief ag. officer with JV Smith companies says this event is a great way to sample locally grown produce and try new things.

“This year we are going to be providing leaks and Brussels sprouts,” said McGuire. 

McGuire believes it is important for Yumans to be educated in the ag industry. 

“A lot of them don’t actually know what the Ag vegetable industry is about,” he said. 

So how does it make a grower feel to see their name attached to this event?

“I think it’s great, I actually get to go out to eat and see our name on the table and I get to see what they do with our product, which we don’t get to see a lot. Normally you get a Romaine salad or spring mix salad, they are actually creating something new and exciting that’s different,” said McGuire. 

You can get a free cookbook by visiting their website.

In conjunction with restaurant week, there will be a contest, to encourage people to get out and try local produce.

Simply visit a participating restaurant and order a featured item and take pictures of it.

You can then share it on the Farm Fresh Forks Facebook page where you will be entered to win a $50 gift card to each of the 6 participating restaurants.

That’s a total of $300 in gift cards, all for simply supporting local chefs and farmers.