The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Cary, North Carolina
T
Sundara Inn & Spa
Wisonsin Dells, Wisconsin
S
undara Inn & Spa’s Communications Manager Carla
Minskey says the spa operates by keeping in mind a localfocused mantra: “What can we source within 60 miles?”
“We reduce our carbon footprint by sourcing locally and get
a longer shelf-life from the produce because it’s not traveling
great distances to get to Sundara,” says Minskey. “We believe
there is a benefit in being able to share the story with our
guests, which adds to the authenticity of their experience and
gives them food-for-thought to incorporate locally produced
ingredients in their menu at home.”
he Umstead Hotel and Spa’s signature restaurant,
Herons, has incorporated produce from The Culinary
Farm less than a mile down the road from the spa.
They have also partnered with a Raleigh-based company,
Larry’s Beans, for the property’s 100 percent organic, fair-trade
and slow-roasted coffee beans. As a result of this partnership,
a special coffee blend called “The Umstead Signature Blend”
was created, which is offered—along with two other blends—
at the property.
Patricia Nugent, PR counsel for The Umstead Hotel and Spa
says, “Providing an exceptional locally roasted coffee through
the property is important and unique, and will contribute to a
memorable food and beverage experience for our guests.”
The Culinary Farm provides produce such as tomatoes,
apples, apricots, figs, and blueberries, all of which are grown
organically. Chefs at The Umstead Hotel and Spa are known to
pickle any vegetables that they have too much of, allowing
guests to enjoy cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, beets, garlic,
peppers and onions throughout the year. In addition, they preserve fruits, jams and apple butter through canning, and meat
through curing and smoking.
“We reduce our
carbon footprint
by sourcing locally
and get a longer
shelf-life...because
its not traveling
great distances to
get to Sundara.”
Sundara Inn & Spa uses a community supported agriculture
(CSA) farm called Orange Cat Community Farm. It also harvests from its own organic herb and vegetable garden and
further sources from a variety of other nearby CSA community
farms. Using organic products is a longstanding spa tradition
as “the spa side of the business has had a decidedly organic
focus from its inception 10 years ago,” says Minskey.
March/April 2013
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