SUPPORT PLANT CAFE & OUR LOCAL ORGANIC FARMS

The Plant Cafe is trying to raise money to stay open, and continue to provide to our customers, support our employees and the local organic farms and businesses we source from.


15 years ago, two friends, Matthew and Mark opened their first restaurant in the Marina area of San Francisco.  Neither of us were from a food background but believed strongly that quality of food is a lifeline to both people's health and the environment we share.  At a health institute that Matthew visited after a family member became ill with cancer, he spent time learning about health, nutrition and how the food we produce and eat affects us all so dramatically.  Matthew met survivors that had turned their health around from serious and terminal illness through diet, and decided he wanted to focus on making it easier to eat clean organic food and support the businesses that provide it.  Less chemicals in our bodies, water and soil, food free of hormones and antibiotics, and better farming practices are crucial to being healthy and living in a cleaner, more sustainable world.


When the pandemic forced us to close our 4 locations, we donated our remaining food to healthcare workers fighting covid.  We then managed to reopen one location in the Dogpatch and re-hire 15 of our long-term staff, some who have been with us for more than 10 years.  Upon reopening, we added produce and groceries to our menu from local farms like Full Belly, River Dog and local distributors like Veritable Vegetable.  We hope to keep this supply chain going for San Franciscans to support us as well as the local businesses we buy from.


If we are able to raise donations from the community and like minded people, we will use the funds to pay off debt incurred having closed our stores.  One of our landlords of a closed location has filed lawsuit against us and demands full rent, with no concessions.  While we are fighting the suit, this wealthy landlord is attempting to overwhelm us with legal costs.  With funds raised, we will have the ability to fight this suit, pay rent, and also re-open another location and rehire more staff.  And we will be able to continue serving great local organic food to those that want it.
 

The Plant Cafes have been a passion project and labor of love over the last 15 years, and every year it seems a more important pursuit.  Our purpose is to make better food accessible, for people to be healthier, and to support ethical and climate friendly practices - and we see it working.  Over the years, the Plant Café has supplied food to many San Franciscans, local hospitals, and green organizations.   We have had customers and employees share their stories over the years of overcoming illness and improving their health.  We were awarded the most sustainable restaurant in the Bay Area by The Nature Conservancy, and were the first restaurant in America to be given a platinum rating from the non profit Eat Real for healthy ingredients, cooking methods and dedication to sustainable operations.  All of our food is organic, sourced from local farms, our packaging is compostable, we serve only low carbon footprint meats (no beef or lamb due to their high carbon footprint), and we offer a large vegan menu and vegan products from San Francisco start-ups.


More than 80% of restaurants in San Francisco are currently closed, either temporarily or permanently.  The Golden Gate Restaurant Association estimates at least 50% will not reopen.  During the pandemic, we feel that healthy food and support of local businesses is important to keep going.  The pandemic is a tragedy to all, and after 15 years in business, without the help of our friends, customers and community, The Plant Cafe may be yet another casualty of the pandemic.  While still waiting for an EIDL gov loan that hasn't come in, we are working hard to stay open and through community support, rehire more of our dedicated staff.  Anything you can contribute, or share our campaign with anyone you think might want to help, would be deeply appreciated.  We don't know what support we might be able to raise to keep The Plant Café alive, but we are extremely grateful for anything big or small that may help us continue...



THE PLANT cafe organic
www.theplantcafe.com 


Articles about us and our mission:


https://www.prunderground.com/the-plant-cafe-organic-becomes-the-first-platinum-real-certified-restaurant-in-the-nation/00100822/ 

https://www.sfgate.com/restaurants/article/Plant-Cafe-Organic-Going-healthy-by-the-bay-4947653.php 

https://impakter.com/the-plant-health-and-conservation-through-diet/ 

https://www.hult.edu/blog/tedx-jamie-olivers-global-food-revolution-day/ 

https://globalfoodworld.life/restaurant-organic-products/ 


River Dog Farm Yolo County, CA.   Taken by founder Matthew and his friend Lior Zilberstein, while camping on one of the local organic farms we source from.