Bounty | Food and Farm Guide | 2022 | Growing Season

Growing Season 2022

LOCAL FOOD AND FARM GUIDE

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE page 6

INSIDE: YOUR GUIDE TO FARM STANDS AND FARMERS’ MARKETS

All Natural makes all the difference.

WE OFFER

Everything you eat starts with how it is raised and how it gets to you. Know what you and your family are eating.

• Black Angus cattle selected for high marbling genetics, locally farm-raised in large pastures in a low stress environment • NEVER EVER given antibiotics, hormones, or steroids or fed animal by-products • Available by quarter, half, or whole, cut and packaged just the way you want it • Dry-aged 21 days for tender, moist, consistently great flavor.

www.blueskyfarmcolorado.com (970) 222-7147 • Rbluesky8@msn.com • Windsor, CO Please request a cutting instruction sheet to place your order.

LET US SHARE WHOLESOME, NUTRITIOUS, AND SAFE NATURAL BEEF WITH A TASTE YOU CAN TRUST.

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Chicken and Waffles

restaurant • oyster bar • craf t cocktails

Tastes Like Home...Now Serving Brunch Aperol Spritz

Carrot Lox Hours: Dinner Sun, Tue-Thur 4-9pm, Sat & Sun 4-10 pm, Brunch Sat-Sun 9-2pm 130 south mason st. - downtown Fort Collins • www. theregionalfood.com

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Better With Age “This is fantastic!” Exclaimed my wife Stefanie after her first bite of filet. We we’re at our favorite steakhouse in Fort Collins and I couldn’t agree more, the steak was great.

Curiosity got the best of me. Why are some steaks better than most and why can’t I do this at home with my grocery store meats?

“For steaks, the key is the 21 day aging process. In that time, a humidor cooler keeps it at a precise 34 degrees. This allows the natural “good” bacteria to release enzymes that tenderize and add much more

flavor to the steak,” says Mickayla Fox, General Manager, Rare Italian.

It all made sense to me now and I could attempt to replicate the process at home with what I had at my fingertips. Modifying my 2nd fridge, and upping my seasoning cabinet keeps me in the game when I can’t make it to a restaurant.

If inflation is knocking at your door as hard as mine, a good 2 bone pork chop maybe the answer. You can grab one in Fort Collins at Choice City or another local butcher at a reasonable market price.

Sponsored Content

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With chops, seasoning and cook time is more important than aging and the result is fantastic. We had The Regional’s best chop and it provided a refreshing alternative to beef or bison.

“It’s a 2 day Sous Vide process that’s the key. We use an all Colorado green chile rub, then season with local herbs and spices. A hard sear before serving completes the plate,” says Patrick Romsa, Chef, The Regional.

At the end of the day, it takes time or a bit of money to get that first bite payoff. But either are an option you’ll be pleased with in the end.

2022 NoCo Farmers Markets Berthoud Local Farmers Market Fickel Park, 620 Mountain Ave., Berthoud Saturdays, 9am–noon, June 18–Sept. 24 http://berthoudlocal.org Erie Farmers Market Briggs Street between Wells and Moffatt, Erie Thursdays, 5–8pm, May 12–Sept. 8 www.realfarmersmarketco.com Estes Valley Farmers Market Visitor Center, 500 Big Thompson Ave., EP Thursdays, 8am–1pm, June 2–Sept. 29 www.facebook.com/EstesValleyFarmersMarket Farmers Market at Fairgrounds Park 700 S. Railroad Ave., Loveland Sundays, 9am–1pm June 5–Sept. 25 (except July 3) www.cityofloveland.org/farmersmarket

Fort Collins Farmers Market 1001 E. Harmony Rd., FC (rain or shine) Sundays, 10am–2pm, May 1–Nov. 13 Wednesdays, 10am–2pm, June 15–Nov. 13 www.fortcollinsfarmersmarket.org

Loveland West Farmers Market at Jax 2665 W Eisenhower Blvd, LV Tuesdays, 9am–1pm, April 19–Nov. 8 www.facebook.com/ LovelandWestFarmersMarket

Greeley Summer Farmers Market Union Pacific Depot, 902 7th Ave., GR Saturdays, 8am–Noon, May 7–Oct. 29 www.greeleygov.com/fm

Timnath Sunday Market 4138 Main St., Timnath Second Sundays, 9am–2pm, May–Oct www.TimnathFarmersMarket.org

Larimer County Farmers Market 200 S. Oak St., FC (courthouse parking lot) Saturdays, 9am–1pm, May 21–Oct. 29 www.larimercountyfarmersmarket.org

Windsor Farmers Market Boardwalk Park, 110 5th St., Windsor Saturdays, 9am–1pm, June 4–Sept. 3 www.windsorgov.com/FarmersMarket

FARM STANDS

Something about being on a farm just feels good. The pace feels relaxed and your interactions, maybe, more genuine. So swing by a farm stand soon and pick up some deliciousness while you’re at it.

Bartels Farm 3424 E. Douglas Rd., Fort Collins www.thebartelsfarm.com

Heritage Lavender 4809 Foothills Dr., Berthoud www.heritagelavender.com

On the Vine at Richmond Farms 3611 Richmond Dr., Fort Collins www.onthevineatrichmondfarms.com

Colorado Fresh Farms 8101 S Timberline Rd, Fort Collins www.coloradofreshfarms.com

Hoffman Farms, LLC 3545 W. O St., Greeley www.hoffmanproduce.com

OwlTree Farm 4605 E. CR 58, Fort Collins www.owltreefarmco.com

Desiderata Ranch 4617 CR 2, Berthoud http://desiderataranch.org

Hope Farms 1601 N. Shields St., Fort Collins www.cultivatehopeco.org

Papa Joe’s Honey 4855 W. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland www.facebook.com/PapaJoesLocalHoney

Folks Farm & Seed 917 S. Taft Hill Rd., Fort Collins www.folksfarmandseed.com

Jodar Farms/Fort Collins Vine Farm Order online/pick up Fort Collins or Wellington www.jodarfarms.com

Raisin’ Roots Farm 2229 W. Vine Dr., Fort Collins www.sunnydazegardens.com

Garden Sweet 719 W. Willox Ln., Fort Collins www.gardensweet.com

Long Shadow Farm Order online/pick up Berthoud www.longshadowfarm.com

Sunny Daze 901 S. CR 5, Fort Collins www.sunnydazegardens.com

Green Dog Farm Off CR54G next to Overland Foods, Laporte www.greendogfarmcsa.com

Native Hill Farm 2100 CR 54G, Fort Collins www.nativehillfarm.com

Tigges Farm 12404 CR 64½, Greeley www.tiggesfarm.com

Hazel Dell Mushrooms 3925 E. CR 32 (Carpenter Rd.), Fort Collins www.hazeldellmushrooms.com

Ollin Farms 8627 N. 95th St., Longmont www.ollinfarms.com

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Community Supported Agriculture Invest in farmers, invest in the community

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urple carrots, Dragon beans, kohlrabi, and sugar peas. What do they have in common? These are some of the spectacular local produce options you might receive with a Community Supported Agricultural (CSA) membership.

WHAT IS A CSA AND HOW DO YOU GET STARTED? Traditionally, CSA members would purchase a share at the beginning of the growing season and receive first dibs on the fresh produce throughout the harvest on a routine basis—generally weekly from May through October, depending on the region. Through these early memberships, the farmer or grower received financial support for front end costs of seed purchases, fuel, etc. Over the last several years, newer

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models have evolved allowing more flexibility for the consumer and encouraging more community members to participate from basic product purchasing to investing in the agricultural process itself.

NON-COMMITMENT MODEL If you still enjoy the fun of a mystery box that may include anything from purple asparagus to sweet corn, FarmFreshCSA (FFCSA) has a non-commitment model for you. FFSCA offers vegetable-only boxes that you can buy when you need it. “We just want you to enjoy the experience of fresh food!” says Matt Martindale, owner.

CREDIT MODEL Another innovative method is a credit model. Pondy Mountain Produce offers

a $120 a credit package. Customers purchase credit dollars that they then can use to buy organic produce via a very robust online store or directly at their vendor booth at farmers markets.

“In addition, our credit-CSA members receive 20 percent off at the market,” says Matt Unger, owner.

GIFT CARD SYSTEM Folks Farm and Seed CSA’s process is based on a gift card system. Customers can use the card anywhere they are selling produce, including at their selfserve farm stand. “We plant plants that want to grow here. We use regenerative farming practices like composting, low till, and cover crops. Our produce is all organic and nutrient dense,” shares Alex Zeidner. When customers purchase a CSA gift card, customers have

CSA Q&A

Can you volunteer at a CSA farm?

Some farms do allow members to volunteer with different parts of the growing/harvesting process. Check with the CSA for specifics.

Do CSAs participate in SNAP? Some do at the farm stand or at their local farmers markets. Check with the farm, owner or website for information.

Do all CSA farms have CSA winter and summer options?

No. Check with the owner/farmer. Some farms prefer to attend local winter farmers markets.

Some take a break for the winter season.

the option to donate to The Vegetable Connection, a local nonprofit that offers programs to financially challenged families ranging from CSAs to cooking classes in Northern Colorado.

Thanks to greenhouses and a yearround growing operation, Colorado Fresh Farms offers winter and summer CSA options offering a full array of produce from root and vine crops to late spring and summer strawberries. “We are a seed to finish production meaning we start our own seeds and nurture the crop through harvest,” shares Haydn Christensen, owner. Gift cards can be used at the farm stand and markets.

FOOD ACCESS AND YOUTH EDUCATION Sharing and caring continues through Sproutin’ Up, another local market farm that targets food access and

youth education. Initially started as a September to May school-year program, Sproutin’ Up has expanded to a summer CSA skills-training program. The students work in the gardens, harvest and market prep the produce, then learn job-readiness skills through managing the market. “The inspiration for this model came from working at UCHealth teaching kids from financially challenged households about healthy lifestyles. We wanted to keep that sense of community that can be built by sharing,” says Anne Genson, MPH, Executive Director. The Sproutin’ Up CSA is a market-style 10- or 20-week program. Members can pick and choose produce, intentionally purchasing only what is needed and thoughtfully considering what may be helpful to another family.

INVESTING IN THE FARMER Native Hill Farms and Colorado Fresh Farms are success stories jumpstarted through the Poudre Valley Community Farms, a multi-faceted land cooperative

“I would definitely recommend CSAs. I’ve lived in or near cities

CUSTOMER RECOMMENDATION:

How do you find CSAs? Start with visiting local farmers markets. Meet your farmer at the vendor stand and learn more about their offerings.

Visit online resources, such as: www.localharvest.org/fort-collins-co/csa www.aroundfoco.com/fort-collins-csa/ Download the grownby.app This is a new app on the market posting farms and CSAs with new farms added frequently.

most of my life, and I love that CSAs give me access to locallygrown food that is fresher, more flavorful and often cheaper than what I can find at the big-chain grocery stores. Participating in a CSA also helps support the community and gives you direct access to the people growing your food.” –Shayne Julius.

whose goal is to bring the community’s financial resources together to solve the problem of land access for food producers. “Affordable land and access to water are the core of grower’s needs,” says Kevin Jablonski, CSU ecologist and President. “We want to insure a viable local food system to all through a partnership of community and grower.

Our CSA model is the closest sense of the word “Community.” To Jablonski, a CSA is more than a buy-in first and receive-food-later program. Investing in the farmer is the starting point. “We want our local farmers in the community, growing and engaging in the community, and their children going to school with the community.”

From credits and gift cards to philanthropy and grass roots efforts to conserve farm land for the future, Northern Colorado growers are expanding options to make sure all community members have access to the produce they want when they want it. You can find a grower and market in almost any corner of Northern Colorado with more to come.

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