It’s hard to overstate the significance of Harvest Seasonal Kitchen’s inclusion among the 2019 TxN 20 honorees of Texan By Nature, a nonprofit linking businesses and conservation that was founded by former First Lady Laura Bush.
The list, which was unveiled last week in partnership with Texas Monthly, recognizes “20 companies with Texas operations that have made a demonstrative commitment to conservation,” according to the press release. That breaks down in nuts and bolts to companies that take stewardship of our state’s natural resources seriously ― and do something about it in large and small ways.
“We were surprised to find out who the other 19 honorees were,” says Rick Wells, co-owner of Harvest in McKinney. “We got our arms around how big a deal it was.”
The other recipients range from large corporations, such as Southwest Airlines and Texas Health Resources, to H-E-B and Farmer Brothers coffee, also in the food service sector.
From its inception in 2014, Harvest has emphasized the connection to local farmers, ranchers and artisans, taking the concept beyond lip service. For instance, almost all its food (protein to produce) comes from a 250-mile radius, and it’s the culture of the restaurant to “utilize every piece of the animal or produce,” according to the TxN 20 online profile. That produces far less waste. Virtually everything is conserved ― down to water glasses made from recycled wine bottles.
In addition, the Harvest Seed Project Foundation, an adjunct to the restaurant, “funds initiatives that support sustainability.” What that means on the ground is everything from growing school gardens to raising money for its Farm Crisis Fund, which gives local farmers and ranchers immediate help after disasters.
Wells has been a persistent cheerleader for the local ag scene. Still, the announcement of Harvest’s inclusion in the inaugural TxN 20 awards came as something of a surprise.
“We’ve been grinning from ear-to-ear since then,” he says.
You can read more about all the 2019 honorees at txn20.org.
Kim Pierce is a Dallas freelance writer.