Notes from the field
The last few years have seen a subtle to seismic shift in the way restaurants source fruits and vegetables. From planting rooftop gardens to partnering with farmers, chefs and operators are making a big effort to be local and seasonal. But 2011 is shaping up as an even more produce-centric year.
Financing
Good news & bad news on food costs
Wholesale food costs will ease significantly for restaurants this year, but operators will still feel a pinch on margins because of customers’ resistance to pass-along increases in menu prices, according to the National Restaurant Association.
The 2012 U.S. corn crop is forecast to total 10.8 billion bushels, a decline of 13 percent from a year ago. While planted area is pegged at a record 96.4 million acres, yields are forecast to decline to 123.4 bushels per acre, a decline of more than 20 percent from trend levels. The decline reflects the most adverse weather in more than 20 years to face corn growers.