“From farm gate to dinner plate” (or “from gate to plate”) means the entire process of food production and distribution. Farm Gate to Dinner Plate: The Marketing of Animal Products (1973) was a paper presented to the Reading University (UK) Agricultural Club. “From the farm gate to the dinner plate” was printed in the Windsor (ON) Star on October 28, 1974. “Gate to plate” was printed in the Quarterly Review of the Rural Economy (Canberra, Australia) in February 1985.
 
There are other similar terms. “Farm-to-table” has been cited since at least 1911, but became popular in the 1980s. “Field-to-fork” has been cited in print since at least 1989. “Roof(top)-to-table” has been cited in print since at least 2009 and refers to food grown on the roof of a building.
   
             
OCLC WorldCat record
Farm gate to dinner plate : the marketing of animal products
Author: A R MacLaurin; C B Asby
Publisher: Reading : R.U.A.C., 1973.
Edition/Format:   Print book : English
     
28 October 1974, Windsor (ON) Star, “OFL chief raps chain stores: Food price inquiry urged” by Gord Henderson, pg. 1, col. 2:
NIAGARA FALLS—The president of the Ontario Federation of Labor, David Archer, wants the government to set up a royal commission to investigate food prices.
(...)
A government inquiry should cover the entire spectrum of the food industry “from the farm gate to the dinner plate” and should not have its terms of reference established by the food chains, said Mr. Archer.
 
5 January 1975, Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI), “Inflation Is in Food Margin” by Bob Bjorklund, sec. 4, pg. 2, col. 1:
The latest figures on this food margin (from farm gate to consumers plate) are for 1973 and they show: ...
 
12 February 1977, Vancouver (BC) Sun, “Super-Valu asks court injuction to stop picketing,” sec. 3, pg. 43, col. 6:
In a press release. B.C. Federation of Agriculture president Ralph Barichello repeated his call for a full-scale inquiry into all aspects of food production—“from farm gate to dinner plate”—and said an inquiry would answer some of the longstanding questions surrounding the marketing practices of food chains.
 
February 1985, Quarterly Review of the Rural Economy (Canberra, Australia), pg. 62:
Industry paper
R. Austen, Chairman
Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation
Pg. 63:
In order to determine which sectors of the plain require most attention, a study will be initiated to analyse and monitor the costs from ‘gate to plate’.
     
9 November 1989, Edmonton (Alberta) Journal, “Ecology looms as farm issue:,” pg. E12:
The Canadian Press
Toronto
Canadian food production—“from farm gate to dinner plate”—will be forced to meet stricter environmental standards in the 1990s, several speakers told an agricultural outlook conference Wednesday.
 
30 November 1989, The Globe and Mail (Toronto, ON), “Campbell’s sloganeering chairman planning to shift into fresh foods” by Oliver Bertin, pg. B13, col. 1:
David Clark, chairman of Campbell Soup Co. Ltd., is keen on slogans.
 
“Fastest from (farm) gate to plate” is one of his favorites.
 
Google Books
Title Meat Quality from Gate to Plate
Author University of Bristol. Department of Meat Animal Science
Contributor Meat Technology Service
Publisher University of Bristol, 1991
 
OCLC WorldCat record
The Australian ostrich industry from gate to plate : a special seminar on the commercial future of the Australian ostrich industry, held on 2 February 1994 at Outlook ‘94 in Canberra : summary of proceedings.
Author: Australian Ostrich Company.
Publisher: Warragul, Vic. : Australian Ostrich Co., 1994.
Edition/Format:   Print book : Conference publication : English
   
OCLC WorldCat record
“Focus on the future : gate to plate” : proceedings of the 30th annual Pig Health Society symposium Montague Hotel, Emo, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, April 30th 2003
Author: John O’Doherty; Pig Health Society. Symposium
Publisher: [Dublin] : [Pig Health Society], 2003.
Edition/Format:   Print book : Conference publication : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Llawlyfr cynhyrchwyr cig oen : “o’r gât i’r plât” = Lamb producers’ handbook : “from gate to plate.”
Author: Meat Promotion Wales (Organization)
Publisher: Aberystwyth : Hybu Cig Cymru, ©2005.
Edition/Format:   Print book : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
A Classic Cut: With a focus on innovative raising techniques, The Grober/Delft Blue Group takes care of every step in the veal production process from gate to plate
Edition/Format: Article Article : English
Publication: FOOD IN CANADA, 67, no. 2, (2007): 39-42
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Farms & foods of Ohio : from garden gate to dinner plate
Author: Marilou K Suszko
Publisher: New York : Hippocrene Books, ©2007.
Series: Hippocrene’s American state series.
Edition/Format:   Print book : English
Summary:
After spending more than a year traveling the state of Ohio and visiting enough small farms to fill this book twice, Marilou Suszko puts the stories to paper to encourage others to seek out wonderful foods and flavors found closer to home. You will be amazed at how good foods taste when you know who is responsible for getting them to your plate.
 
OCLC WorldCat record
A chef’s guide to Scotch beef & lamb : from farm gate to dinner plate
Author: Quality Meat Scotland.
Publisher: Ingliston : Quality Meat Scotland, 2007.
Edition/Format:   Print book : English