Chipotle — the fast-food burrito joint owned by McDonald's — has been trying to push more local foods through its restaurants for the past few years. Part of it is marketing, like their high-profile agreement with Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms (immortalized in Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma) to provide all the pork at Chipotle's Charlottesville, VA locations.
Now, the restaurant chain is expanding their commitment, vowing to source at least 25% of at least one produce item from small and medium local farms at every one of Chipotle's over 700 locations, at least when the veggies are in season. One item seems like a drop in the bucket, but with the massive volume fast food places go through it could mean big bucks for local farms.
This article appears in Jun 18-24, 2008.