Majority of diners can't identify seasonal produce, says OpenTable
Some 35% of diners think seasonal menus are important; however, only 18% can identify seasonal ingredients, according to research by online reservation service OpenTable.
The nationwide survey was carried out in partnership with British Food Fortnight to find out how knowledge of seasonal produce impacts people's dining experience.
Half of the respondents said they would prefer to eat at a restaurant that grows its own produce, and 41% said they would think again about eating in a restaurant that sold produce that wasn't sourced in Britain.
Adrian Valeriano, vice president of OpenTable, Europe, said: "It is incredibly important for diners to think about where the food they are enjoying comes from, though it's interesting to see how unaware we can all be about the provenance of our food. Events like British Food Fortnight are incredibly helpful in raising awareness around local produce, as are the restaurants and chefs that speak so passionately about this cause.
British Food Fortnight, which aims to encourage the public to start growing, cooking and farming, runs from 17 September to 2 October.
Alexia Robinson, founder of British Food Fortnight, said: "There's definitely more work to be done to achieve a nationwide awareness of British produce, but if diners start factoring this into all aspects of dining, they'll not only gain an insight into agriculture, but grow confident in what and when to order at a restaurant for the best possible taste."
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