Celebrating 20 Years of Eat Local Challenge

JOIN US  TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Enjoy a 100% local meal made entirely of foods grown within 150 miles of this café.

This year marks an extra special milestone in the decades-long commitment to local food
systems for Bon Appétit Management Company. Twenty years ago, we began an annual
tradition of challenging our chefs to cook an entire meal made exclusively with ingredients
grown within 150 miles of their cafe. The rules are simple: All elements of the meal must be
grown, harvested, milled, raised, or produced locally— the only exception is salt.
Each September, Eat Local Challenge is a chance for our chefs to flex their creativity while
emphasizing our year-round support for our local farmers and foodsheds. This year, the
celebration will take place on Tuesday, September 24th

Over the years, we have enjoyed countless mouthwatering creations and celebrated many long-term farm partnerships. We’ve
also witnessed how Eat Local Challenge can spur new lasting connections with nearby
producers in the pursuit of a fully local plate.

While Eat Local Challenge is a once-per-year celebration for us at Bon Appétit, its inspiration is
grounded in a legacy of pursuing a resilient food future through ongoing, institutional support
of local food systems and partners. In a year of exciting milestones, 2024 also marks 25 years
since the creation of the Farm to Fork Program, our hallmark sustainability initiative that tasks
all our teams to spend at least 20% of their food budget on small farms within 150 miles. To
commemorate the occasion, we’ve published our learnings in a white paper drawing from our
many years of industry-leading experience after 25 Years of Farm to Fork.

While there’s much to celebrate and reflect on this year, we are grateful for the chance to enjoy
another Eat Local Challenge with our guests, chefs, and farmers, and affirm our continual
mission to expand and deepen the support for our local food communities.