Manatee restaurant owner offering locally grown produce

A Manatee County restaurant owner is taking up farming in hopes of making his customers’ dining experience even better.

Nearly a year ago, Ed Chiles took over the struggling Gamble Creek Farm in Parrish. Chiles owns the Sandbar and BeachHouse Restaurants on Anna Maria Island as well as the Mar Vista Restaurant on Longboat Key.

He is now using the locally-grown produce from the farm at his restaurants. He said it’s a perfect fit.

"People want to reconnect with their food supply and want to know where their food is coming from,” Chiles said. "They want to know who grows the food and how it’s grown."

Now, Chiles and his staff can answer those questions.

Gamble Creek Farm, located at 14950 Golf Course Road, was once a former community supported agriculture operation owned by the non-profit Florida West Coast Resource Conservation & Development Council. The organization wasn’t successful and closed in hopes that someone would take it over.

Chiles signed a long-term lease to operate the 26-acre farm. So far, he said business is good.

“We grow a variety of different crops here,” said Chiles. “About half is organic and the other half is conventional.”

At Gamble Creek, with the help of longtime Manatee County farmer Eric Geraldson, Chiles is growing acres of organic and row crops plus hydroponic vegetables. He has eggplant, scallions, green beans, tomatoes and more.

Often the produce is picked in the morning and served later that day at Chiles’ restaurants.

“Anything you can get as close to when you’re picking to means the nutrition is enhanced a lot and your flavor is night and day difference,” Geraldson said.

Chiles is also using waste from the restaurants for compost on the farm. He plans on adding farm stands to all of the restaurants in the future so his customers can take home locally grown produce with them after earing.

In addition to using the farm to serve fresh local produce at his restaurants, Chiles hopes to use the farm for education and entertainment. He said he hopes to hold farm-to-table dinners on the property.