FARMERS' MARKETS SERVE UP FALL BOUNTY FROM COLORADO
DENVER (August 29, 2013) – With plentiful fresh and homegrown fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses and more, Colorado brings its abundance of local resources to consumers with farmers’ markets across the state. Placing an emphasis on eating local and knowing where your food comes from, shoppers can take garden- and farm-fresh products home for healthy and delicious fare this harvest season. Following are some of the most unique and bountiful farmers’ markets in Colorado.
The Boulder Farmers’ Market is the largest in the state and offers an assortment of locally grown vegetables, fruits, gourmet cheeses and wines at 50 farmers’ stalls. Shoppers can also enjoy freshly prepared food and pastries by local chefs to get a glimpse of the menus at some of the area’s farm-to-table restaurants. The market is open Saturdays from the first Saturday in April until the third Saturday in November with local wine, beer and music on Wednesday nights from May through September.
The Gunnison Farmers’ Market provides local fruits and vegetables in addition to fresh eggs, cheeses, honey, herbs and more. The market sponsors activities for all ages including cooking demos, samples for lunch and breakfast from resident food vendors, as well as weekly kids’ activities, including programs like painting with cherries, celebrating wildflowers, cooking from the garden and pumpkin carving. The market is open on Saturdays from mid-June through early November.
The Golden Farmers’ Market brings together a wide variety of local produce, Colorado wines, hand-spun cheeses, freshly baked breads and more. The Jefferson County Master Gardeners provide weekly demos on topics including kids’ terrarium making, rock gardening and container vegetables, just to name a few. Visitors can also enjoy free horse-drawn carriage rides and live music. The market runs on Saturdays from the beginning of June through the beginning of October.
The Telluride Farmers’ Market gathers regional food from a 100-mile radius, including local bread, eggs, vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses and more. Visitors can also experience local prepared food vendors along with music and presentations. The market is open Fridays beginning in June through the second week of October.
The Cortez Farmers’ Market features vendors from around the area and their fresh offerings of meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables. Adding to the variety are goods like local peppers, honey, jams and jellies as well as homemade breakfast burritos and tamales. Visitors can also enjoy live music and arts and crafts. The market is held every Saturday from the beginning of June through the end of October.
The Youth Farmers’ Market program combines a joint effort between Slow Food Denver and Denver Urban Gardens that teaches students how to set up a market stand at their schools and sell produce from the school gardens and local farms to those within the school community. Students also learn about marketing, business management and seasonality of produce.
The Minturn Market, which began in 1998, has grown to 115 vendors each week along with two live music stages and children’s activities. The market offers a variety of farm-fresh and organic produce, breakfast and lunch options and gourmet foods. Each summer, the market attracts over 45,000 people and runs on Saturdays from the end of June through mid-September.
Highway 50 through Otero County boasts a stretch of nine farmers’ markets, all of which showcase the goods of the fertile land in the area. Known for corn and melons, the markets offer the best local produce from throughout the Arkansas River Valley. Some highlights along the route include Lusk’s Farm Market, with a farm that has been operating since the early 1900s; Hanagan’s Farm Market, featuring “pick your own” chilies and tomatoes; Hirakata Farm Market, a fifth generation family farm business known for Rocky Ford Melons; and Knapp’s Farm Market, which will ship its fresh produce direct to consumers.
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