Farm-to-table
Despite the growth in the farm-to-table restaurants the movement has been met with some criticism. Critics argue the interest in knowing where your food comes from and ensuring it is locality sourced is just another food fad for millennials. Furthermore, the higher price point that many restaurants are forced to demand, given the higher costs of production and lower economies of scale, also make farm-to-table food less accessible for many people. The movement was originally closed tied to "tree-hugging elitists," who were able to afford farm-to-table food. Lastly, critics argue that the farm-to-table term is not fully understood by consumers. For example, foods advertised as farm-to-table are considered healthier regardless of actual nutritional content.
George Francisco
In 2011, Francisco moved to Hunter Valley and became the executive chef at the Tower Estate, which comprised Tower Lodge, Restaurant Nine, Peppers Convent and Roberts Circa 1876. He is an advocate for the concept of reducing Food miles, which measures the distance food travels between production and consumption. In 2012, he established an organic kitchen on the estate to source ingredients for the restaurant. Later, he increased the area covered by the garden and also established a small chicken farm and beehives.