Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC), the non-profit certification organization that focuses on improving the lives of farm animals in food production, just announced restaurant and foodservice businesses with a strong commitment to purchasing Certified Humane Raised and Handled products for their menus.

Girasole Restaurant in The Plains was one of three restaurants recognized for their humane product purchases. The family-owned and operated Italian restaurant sources and promotes its beef, veal, chicken, pork, and turkey products from Upperville’s Ayrshire Farm. As we continue to expand our definition of locavore to consider locale, it is wonderful to recognize the family restaurant’s commitment to the humane quality of its products. Look: The animals even seem happy!

If travels take you to Hawaii, you can visit the other two recent humane-food focused purchasers: Mala Ocean Tavern in Maui was recognized for its Certified Humane goats’ milk cheeses, and Ono Gelato Company in Paia in Maui, got the nod for its organic, locally-grown fruit and focus on farm-to-fork ethics in making lilikoi quark gelato.

Congratulations to the businesses that have such a strong focus on humane-raised products!