The Nature Conservancy launched a contest in September asking foodies in New Jersey and across the country to nominate their favorite green restaurants for Nature’s Plate, a second annual people’s choice contest to find consumers’ top green restaurants in each location. Since October 1, voters have been submitting their choice for which sustainable, organic or farm-to-table restaurant would take home the 2013 Award, and today the winner was announced:
The winner in New Jersey is Blue Plate of Mullica Hill
Blue Plate describes their eatery as: A casual restaurant that works closely with the farms within a 20 minute drive. We promote the purchase and supporting local farmers and food artisans, and we teach the enjoyment of eating produce that is just hours out of the ground.
“Blue Plate’s focus on local, seasonal and sustainable food is good for people, for New Jersey and for the planet. We are proud to honor them with the Nature’s Plate award for 2013,” says Barbara Brummer, New Jersey State Director for The Nature Conservancy. You can congratulate them on their Facebook page.
The Nature Conservancy understands that conservation must be economically and environmentally viable for business, consumers and nature in order to work and last. We’ve helped change the way food producers do business through collaboration and innovative solutions that treat the land and water as assets to protect.
In New Jersey, The Nature Conservancy is working with farmers on sustainability projects including implementing eco-friendly drip irrigation methods and planting wild pollinator habitat to help bees and increase crop yields, and with partners in the Delaware River and Bay to protect, restore and maintain functioning ecosystems that many fish rely upon.
While this contest focused on restaurants, it’s only the start of a conversation about food, conservation and The Nature Conservancy’s work with farmers and fisherman. Learn more about our work in New Jersey and about what makes a restaurant green at nature.org/naturesplateNJ, and be sure to check in next year for the 2014 Nature’s Plate Award Contest. The Nature Conservancy does not endorse, recommend, or certify any restaurant as being green or sustainable.
