Latest News From Colorado

Colorado's San Luis Valley, a heavy hitter in fresh potato production, is poised for another strong season.

The Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association has had a busy summer — and there’s more to come, said Marilyn Bay Drake, executive director.

Carrots are in full swing in Colorado, some onions will start shipping in mid-September and Palisade peaches are winding down for the season, grower-shippers say.

More than 1,800 attendees and 175 exhibitors convened at the Colorado event.

Celebrated Colorado grower Bob Sakata, 96, died June 7.

Monte Vista, Colo.-based Farm Fresh Direct expects more yellow potato production this year from its San Luis Valley farms, said Matt Glowczewski, sales manager.

Houston-based MountainKing expects strong quality for its fall harvest of fresh potatoes in Colorado’s San Luis Valley.

Mastronardi Produce and VetaNova have announced a long-term exclusive distribution agreement of all fruits and vegetables from the operator’s solar-powered greenhouse located in Avondale, Colorado.

Hungenberg Produce Inc. has a big crop of fresh carrots coming for this fall, said Jordan Hungenberg, CEO of the Greeley, Colo.-based company.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative complaint against Ringer & Son Brokerage Co. Inc. for alleged violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

Silt, Colo.-based Spring Born, a 3.5-acre indoor hydroponic greenhouse, will be one of the first leafy green farms in Colorado to undergo organic certification by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The seventh annual Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association conference will feature more than 50 speakers across sessions on topics from labor to online selling platforms to water scarcity.

Southern California growers soon may have access to some new strawberry varieties.

Kimbal Musk, chef, restauranteur, philanthropist and “real food” entrepreneur will open the Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association’s (CFVGA) 7th Annual Conference the morning of Feb. 17.

Houston-based Mountain King Potatoes is stepping up its packaging capacity of smaller-sized potatoes varieties in the face of strong demand.

Potato marketers in the San Luis Valley can expect a “really strong” crop this year, said Jim Ehrlich, executive director of the Monte Vista-based Colorado Potato Administrative Committee.

The year 2020 will go in the record books as one of the toughest in memory, thanks to the COVID-19 virus, but it could turn out to be a profitable year for fresh produce in Colorado, grower-shippers say.

The year started off fine for The Fresh Guys, said president Peter Braidman. But then COVID-19 came along.

Honeyacre Enterprises Ltd. started its greenhouse program the second week of April with tomatoes and cucumbers and will begin shipping orange, red and yellow bell peppers in June.

A year ago, Colo-Pac Produce completed a major cooler expansion that greatly increased its cold storage capacity.

Coosemans-Denver is offering Gourmet Premium Food Boxes that Garrick Macek, vice president of operations, expects will become more and more popular as consumers cope with COVID-19.

Big Sky Trading is expanding its organic offerings, said J.T. Pickett, general operations manager and organic produce buyer.

Alpine Summit Sales will have an extensive line of fruits and vegetables this summer, sourcing from varied growing areas including Colorado, California and Mexico.

The Colorado fruit and vegetable industry will benefit from $745,000 in resarch projects through the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s 2019 Specialty Crops Program.

Peaches and apples dominate Colorado’s summer fruit deal, and the harvests appeared to be on time this year, grower-shippers said.

In response to demand for smaller potatoes in smaller bags, Houston-based MountainKing has acquired a packing facility dedicated exclusively to fingerlings and “baby” versions of yellow and red potatoes.

Produce distributor FreshPack Produce, Denver, is the exclusive supplier to Torchy’s Tacos in Colorado.

San Luis Valley potato growers need Colorado to get more snow this coming winter than it got this past winter.

Cooperative weather during the growing season has San Luis Valley potato industry members anticipating a good crop.

Green Plains Cattle Co. continues to grow after buying Bartlett Cattle Company's two feedlots, leaving Bartlett & Co. with no feedlots and raising Green Plains capacity to 355,000 head.

When Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue visits with farmers, he wants to hear their concerns.

Colorado fruit grower Harry Talbott is one of the newest members of the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Tough regulations of well pumping for farmers causing issues

The Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is inviting technology startup companies to make pitches to attendees of the group’s fourth annual conference.

Denver-based Grower’s Organic has named the winners of its ‘Paying it Forward’ campaign and will donate $1,000 to charity in the recipients’ names.

Potato harvest has hit full stride in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, and at least one grower-shipper thinks the 2017 season will be a good one.