Why Your Caterer’s Farm Relationships Matter More Than Their Menu
Every caterer says ‘locally sourced’ these days. It’s on menus, websites, and pitch decks. But sourcing locally is a transaction. Sourcing from farms you actually know, farms whose harvest calendars you follow, whose growers you call by name, is something different entirely. At Handheld Catering, we’ve spent years building real working relationships with ten regional farms across Northern and Central California. Now that summer is in full swing, those relationships are the reason our menus keep evolving and the reason every dish we serve tells a story worth telling. Transactions vs. Relationships When a caterer buys produce through a distributor, they’re buying whatever’s available at the best price for that week. It might be labeled ‘organic’ or ‘local,’ but the selection is driven by supply chain availability, not peak quality. When we build our seasonal menu, we start b...