It’s a natural: connecting Alabama restaurants with local farmers so the best of what’s grown in the state can be served fresh to hungry local patrons – for the benefit of all three constituencies.

But it’s not always so easy to bring it all together.

That’s where Sweet Grown Alabama, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to marketing the best of Alabama agriculture, comes in.

This month, Sweet Grown Alabama hosted three networking events for culinary professionals in Huntsville, Birmingham and Auburn. At the events, the organization shared information with restaurant owners and staff about marketing and sourcing local ingredients while also inviting area farmers to attend, helping everyone connect the dots and build new relationships. Representatives from nearly two dozen farms attended the events.

Meanwhile, every restaurant that came received a complimentary one-year membership in the Sweet Grown Alabama program, which offers an online, public database to search for stores, markets and restaurants that support the Sweet Grown Alabama brand.

Alabama farmers offer an abundance of luscious summer produce for home tables and restaurant menus. (Alabama Cooperative Extension System)

Carma McMichen, owner of Lost Creek Mercantile and Provisions restaurant in Ranburne, in rural Cleburne County, said the effort to better connect restaurateurs with local farmers is long overdue.

“It can be hard to get local product at times,” McMichen said in a news release distributed by Sweet Grown Alabama. “Networking is a great way to make those plans with farmers about what your restaurant will need for the future.”

The events gave restaurant owners and farmers the chance to interact, learn more about their respective needs and challenges, and identify what they can offer each other.

For example, buying from area farmers can help restaurants address supply chain issues while providing their customers the added enticement that they are supporting local growers and serving fresh, locally sourced items on their menus.

“When you buy from my farm, you are not only supporting me but my family, too,” said Beth Hornsby, owner of Hornsby Farms in Auburn.

Here’s a list of the Alabama farms and growers that participated in the networking events, and their locations around the state:

Alchemy Farms and Plants – Hampton Cove

Alleluia Acres Heritage Farm – Alabaster

Andrews Double A Ranch Wildly Blessed – Eclectic

BDA Farm – Uniontown

Blue Ribbon Dairy – Tallassee

Eastaboga Bee Company – Lincoln

Flowers to Bless – Camp Hill

Happy Flappy Farm – Madison

Hornsby Farms – Auburn

Ireland Farms – Alpine

Making Manna – Prattville

Maraella Vineyards and Winery LLC – Hokes Bluff

North Alabama Mushroom LLC – Eva

Nourish Farm – Waverly

Oakwood Farms Market – Huntsville

Planting Roots Farm – Brilliant

Prattville Honey Farm – Prattville

Stebbins Family Farm LLC – Athens

Southard Farms – Madison

Wicked Garlic LLC – Ardmore

Yarbrough Stock Farm – Ashville

Agriculture contributes more than $70 billion annually to Alabama’s economy, according to Sweet Grown Alabama. Studies show that for every dollar spent locally, 60 cents are reinvested into the community, the organization said.

Learn more about Sweet Grown Alabama at sweetgrownalabama.org and search its database for grocery stores, restaurants and markets offering Alabama-grown products.