Business Week revisits old turf of niche agriculture

By JULIETTE ROSSANT Business Week just published a story for June 8, 2004, called "Moveable Feast" (that's a Hemmingway reference, for you little ones) in which they rewarmed an old topic ("local, high-quality produce") and how chef demand is supporting small farmers. While they mention a few locations, they do not really delve into the full community impact around the nation. As I interviewed chefs for Super Chef, it became clear how the expansion of super chef empires is expanding this niche in the agriculture industry across the country. Business Week talked to the establishment like Alice Waters, Thomas Keller, Charlie Trotter. Thank God, they included Daniel Boulud, who recently entered the super chef arena by expanding outside New York into Palm Beach (with a second Cafe Boulud) and Las Vegas (for the new Steve Wynn hotel, concept to be announced). The most interesting place I found for this development was Las Vegas. Somehow, out there not far from Death Valley, farmers are making micro-greens for the high-end restaurants that started sprouting there when Wolfgang Puck dared to open a Spago at Caesar's Palace, now over a decade ago -- read about the history of this trend by one of the masters, Jeremiah Tower in California Dish, or read about its importance within high-end restaurant empires in Super Chef.