The Real Tastemakers: Our 5 Favorite Farm-To-Table Restaurants

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When you can buy hermetically sealed tomatoes in February, it's easy to forget that edible things come from seed, soil, sun, and time. But ask your best taste buds and they'll tell you: a freshly harvested tomato off the vine in August beats his February cousin every day of the week (and twice on Sunday if you're making gazpacho). It's 2010, and it's time to stop ignoring how shady factory farms are and get with locally and seasonally grown food.

But becoming a loca-vore doesn't necessitate a complete lifestyle upheaval. Sure, there are farmers markets and CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscriptions, but you can also find restaurants that do the work for you and source hormone-free, grass-fed proteins. Labor Day means the end of summer, but it also marks the beginning of harvest season here in the dear ol' Northern Hemisphere. Get back to the earth without getting your hands dirty this weekend with our guide to our 5 favorite farm-to-table restaurants.