By Lauren Cox
If you know Local Lands and Atlanta Harvest, then you know that these two farms, owned and operated by the Ysrael family, make up a deeply-rooted and community-based part of our Georgia good food community. It may come as a surprise to discover that it was less than 10 years ago—2010, to be exact—when they packed their bags in Pennsylvania and moved down South.
EliYahu and Asa Ysrael at Local Lands. Photo: MSNBC.
Steven Herman of Arnette’s Chop Shop.
This tidbit of knowledge was a common thread and bonding point for Arnette’s Chop Shop chef and owner Steven Herman the first time he was approached by Asa Ysrael to see if he was interested in sourcing local produce for the restaurant. “We instantly bonded over being Georgia transplants and our relationship has continued to deepen ever since.”
In this Zoom interview with Farm to Restaurant farm Local Lands (Atlanta Harvest), EliYahu Ysrael and chef Steven talk about the importance of farmers and chefs working together to transform the local food movement. “It all boils down to relationships and the mutual respect we have for one another’s work,” EliYahu says. “We’re both super busy people with so many balls in the air that sometimes it’s hard to slow down and make time just to talk but that, ironically, is one of the most important things you can do as a farm trying to sell to a restaurant.”
Check out the conversation here…
To learn more about the Farm to Restaurant program, visit farmtorestaurant.georgiaorganics.org/
Connect with Local Lands: https://www.locallands.net/
Connect with Arnette's Chop Shop: http://arnetteschopshop.com/