Pulse Legacy Archive March / April 2013 | Page 36

The FARM TO SPA Movement: Building Partnerships with Local Farmers BY ALLIE HEMBREE he farm-to-table movement has helped spark interest in the idea of sustainable agriculture and partnerships with local growers. Spas were among the early champions of this movement, serving up spa cuisine with ingredients either grown from the spa’s or resort’s backyard or sourced directly from nearby farms. But many of today’s spas have found creative ways to serve up local produce to guests outside the dining area. Now, locally sourced ingredients have found their way into spa treatments, giving birth to what some would call, the “farm-to-spa” movement. Whether incorporating loc al food into their spa cuisine or into their treatments, these spas have developed a sustainable partnership with local growers and, in the process, created a more eco-friendly experience for guests. T 34 PULSE n March/April 2013