Today’s Topic: Restaurants can enter new ‘Dig into Local’ Best Menu NC contest

by | Mar 24, 2015

Todays-TopicAgriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”

For many years the NCDA&CS has sponsored promotions to encourage restaurants to use more local food on their menus. The latest of these is the “Dig into Local” Best Menu NC contest, and registration is open now.

Dig into Local logoDepartment staff will visit each restaurant between June and September to evaluate menus. Online menus will be reviewed, too. Menus will be judged on several criteria. These include clearly identifying North Carolina ag products, farms and manufacturers; highlighting seasonal produce; identifying items with unique regional connections; using multiple courses featuring North Carolina ingredients; and offering a good balance of North Carolina products across protein, grain and produce categories.

Diners will have the opportunity to enjoy featured items throughout the contest period.

The top 10 menus will be recognized in October, and cash prizes will be awarded to the top five restaurants.

Restaurants can apply for the contest here. Application deadline is May 31.

Click on the audio player below to listen to Commissioner Troxler and Rhonda discuss “Dig into Local” Best Menu NC.

[Audio:http://info.ncagr.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Troxler_3-24.mp3|titles=Today’s Topic for March 24]

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