RESTAURANT REBOOT RELIEF PROGRAM

Our goal has been simple – support the unique, symbiotic relationships between small farmers and local, independent restaurants. In purchasing fresh meat, fish, produce and dairy from small farms across America and providing those resources to local restaurants, we have extended a helping hand to restaurants as they face the long, slow struggle to properly re-open independent restaurants across America. We partnered with farms in operation for over three years that have shown a history of sustainable, responsible agriculture and a commitment to their community as well as those that sell directly to restaurants and not exclusively to national distributors.

In 2020, we purchased over $1 million in product from small farms and then donated these products to small independent restaurants that needed assistance during their re-opening phase. Through cash infusions into the farm, restaurants were able to order the fresh products they needed on a credit. Beneficiary restaurants were in operation for at least two years prior to the pandemic onset and had a demonstrated history of commitment to small, sustainable family farms that exhibit responsible agricultural practices. Priority was given to those restaurants and organizations who were actively helping and giving back to the community during the COVID-19 crisis. Restaurants owned by or employing a majority leadership made up of women or people of color were also at the forefront of our partnership decisions.

In 2021, our goal is to invest into this program to heal our supply chain and further support established relationships between farmers and Chefs as our independent restaurants come out of hibernation.

Is your farm interested in partnering with The LEE Initiative to provide to your local restaurants?