Farm-to-Table Dining from Tallahassee to Gainesville

By Julie Landry Laviolette

Steeped in Southern charm, North Central Florida boasts the graceful capitol city of Tallahassee and the bustling college town of Gainesville, home to the University of Florida.

Along the way, you’ll find family run U Pick farms for strawberries, blueberries and grapes, plus generational farms sourcing produce to farm-to-table restaurants and markets.

Here’s a samplling of farm-to-fork options.

Dining

Backwoods Crossing, Tallahassee – Brothers Jesse and Tyler Rice craft creative Southern dishes in this rustic-chic standby with a folksy feel. There’s an onsite three-acre farm for produce (which you can stroll through), a chicken coop for eggs and a Garden Creations menu that changes weekly. Proteins like soft shell crabs and duck also are local. (Backwoods Crossing suffered severe damage from an April 2024 flood. Check its Facebook page for updates on re-opening.)

Kool Beanz Café, Tallahassee – Eclectic little gem with a funky interior whipping up adventurous takes on Global and Southern cooking. Supports local farmers and food vendors and offers wine and beer. Chef/owner Keith Baxter, originally from London, uses his travels to influence his creative, daily changing menus.

Sweet Pea Café, Tallahassee – Cheerful spot for vegan and organic foods relying on locally grown ingredients. The menu includes simple American handhelds and salads, and there’s a bakery for whole cakes, pies and other treats.

Liberty Bar and Restaurant, Tallahassee – Upmarket American standards in easygoing surrounds, plus crafted cocktails, brunch and produce from local farms.

Black Radish, Tallahassee – Innovative, vegetable-focused shareable small and large plates highlight hyper-seasonal dishes and handmade pasta in a convivial atmosphere. While the menu is mostly vegetarian and vegan, there are seafood and meat options. Natural wines and local beer are poured here.

The Huntsman, Tallahassee – Reimagined wild game, field & stream-to-table, vegan and vegetarian plates are served in a comfortable setting with booth seating. There’s a daily five-course “hunter or gatherer” tasting menu with a beverage pairing and a late-night happy hour. The seasonal menu focuses on local, ethically sourced game animals, plus other local ingredients.

Tupelo’s Bakery & Café, Monticello – Simple, no-frills option for breads, pastries, cakes and casual lunch fare sourced from local and organic ingredients.

Ward’s Supermarket, Gainesville – Longtime family-owned grocery store that partners with local farms, and meat and artisanal goods producers to stock its shelves.

Mosswood Farm Store & Bakehouse, Micanopy – Folksy general store stocking local artisanal goods, plus a bakeshop and coffee bar with seasonal specialties and a daily changing selection.

Farms

Serenity Acres Farm, Pinetta – Goat farm with farm tours, goat milk, cheese and yogurt, plus handmade soaps and skincare.

Monticello Vineyards & Winery, Monticello – Small organic winery located on the 50-acre Ladybird Organics farm. More than 18 varieties of Muscadine grapes are grown, and seasonal wine tastings are available.

Blue Sky Farm. Monticello – U Pick blueberries and blooms with educational workshops.

Windy Hill Vineyard, Tallahassee – Seasonal U Pick grape farm (plus buckets of already picked) for more than 50 years.

Orchard Pond, Tallahassee – Family-owned 30-acre organic farm with U Pick strawberries, a commercial kitchen making honey, pesto, granola and beef jerky, a farm stand and farm tours.

Swallowtail Farm, Alachua – Family-owned 28-acre biodynamic farm showcasing farm-to-table dining events featuring local restaurant chefs and offering produce boxes, eggs and pork. There are seasonal visiting hours.

Crossroads Farm & Apiary, Gainesville – U Pick strawberry farm, with milkshakes, and a farm store for seasonal produce and crafts.

Deep Spring Farm, Alachua – U Pick blueberry farm with picnic grounds, trails and a swimming pond.

Gainesville Giving Garden, Gainesville – Non-profit community-led farm that helps provide equitable access to healthy food. Volunteers help work the garden, and harvests are donated to food-insecure individuals. Holds fund-raising farm-to-table dinners with farm tours and live music.

Hoover Family Farms, Live Oak – U Pick strawberries, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant and jalapenos, as well as produce boxes and 70+ varies of fruits and vegetables.

Resources

Red Hills Small Farm Alliance – Resource to find growers and producers within 100 miles of Tallahassee, with an online market, events, farmers markets and restaurant partners.

Visit FreshFromFlorida.com and LocalHarvest.org to find more farmers’ markets, U Pick farms, co-ops and events.