farm-to-table

adjective

farm-to-ta·​ble ˈfärm-tə-ˈtā-bəl 

variants or less commonly farm to table

: involving or advocating the direct sale and distribution of food (such as raw meat, vegetables, and grains) from its point of origin to customers

Farm-to-table food takes fewer routes to get to your plate …

—Isha Kasai, quoted in The Sun Journal (Lewiston, Maine)

This California company raises its own meat on a ranch in the Shasta Valley and runs farm-to-table restaurants and butcher shops on the West Coast.

—Florence Fabricant

The farm-to-table movement emphasizes the importance of local farmers, their cultivation techniques, and the nutritional value of freshly harvested produce.

—Corrie Duffy

They strive to grow as much as their food as they can from a large organic garden on the property. Which means they serve up some delicious farm to table cuisine.

—Natasha Alden

Examples of farm-to-table in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Farmer and Sons for excellent cocktails and elevated, farm-to-table comfort food. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026

In 2026, the fair is honoring Helen Storrow, the philanthropist and preservationist who helped shape its home cooking programs and championed simple, farm-to-table recipes. — Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026

Zieha and Blue Bird were also described as pioneers for bringing organic, farm-to-table food to Kansas City at a time when this type of cuisine was entering the mainstream across the country. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026

What began as a food truck is now a beloved rotary staple with multiple James Beard nominations, serving farm-to-table sandwiches, natural wine, and take-home meals. — Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above