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

But the farm-to-table movement was gaining momentum among food entrepreneurs and consumers. — Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Aug. 2026

For cultural immersion, a farm-to-table breakfast or cooking class at the on-property sustainable farm Rancho Lola is a perfect fit. — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

The hotel embraces a farm-to-table philosophy, supplementing the produce grown on the estate with purchases from nearby farms and fish caught each morning in the waters surrounding Menorca. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026

In terms of culinary and beverage, make sure to tour The Alchemist brewery, stop for a tasting at Stowe Cider, visit Trapp Family Lodge, and enjoy Vermont’s farm-to-table dining scene. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above