Potatoes may be the No. 1 produce commodity Colorado growers ship, but a variety of other tasty fruits and vegetables emanate from the Centennial State each summer and early fall as well.
Olathe sweet corn; Rocky Ford cantaloupe, watermelon and muskmelons; Palisade peaches; Pueblo chilies, carrots, pumpkins and onions are just a few of the more than two dozen varieties of fruits and vegetables available from the state’s more than 2,000 growers.
Peaches, along with some pears, cherries and grapes, are the main items grown by Palisade, Colo.-based Talbott Farms, said Charlie Talbott, partner in the company with brothers Bruce and Nathan. Peaches usually run from mid-July until Sept. 25, but they’ll wind down about a week earlier this year because of an early spring.
“The flavor is wonderful,” Talbott said.
But hail damage in some orchards was a bit discouraging.
“We’ve got a lot of nice utility-grade peaches this year,” he said. “More than normal.”
The company was on a growth trajectory and would have experienced a 20% increase in volume compared to last year if not for some weather disruptions, including a spring frost.
Talbott Farms also makes fresh apple cider and grows wine grapes on up to 30% of its acreage.
“We’re having fun making some of our own wine as well as selling wine grapes,” Talbott said.
Tuxedo Corn Co. in Olathe, Colo., has been growing sweet corn for 40 years, said owner John Harold.
The company grows flavorful SE — sugar enhanced — varieties that are harvested by hand, Harold said.
Tuxedo Corn started picking around July 20 this year and will continue until mid-to-late September.
“Quality has been very good,” Harold said. “I eat corn every day in the field to figure out maturity and flavor, and it’s been a sweet year.”
Something that’s not so sweet are moths that lay eggs on the corn. Those eggs turn into worms, making the corn unsalable as U.S. fancy grade.
“We’ve had a problem controlling the moths the last two years,” Harold said. “We’re fighting it pretty hard.”
The company reduced its crop by 950 acres this year because of the pest.
Tuxedo Corn has changed its program dramatically this year by turning to moth beneficials — natural predators of the corn ear worm egg.
“It’s helped, but it has not been the total solution,” Harold said.
Petrocco Farms, Brighton, Colo., began its 2024 harvest in early July with cilantro and romaine, green leaf and red leaf lettuces, said Julie Marrone (Petrocco), who handles local and organic sales.
“Our season [dramatically] reduces when we experience the first few temperature frosts, usually sometime in late October or November,” she said.
Cabbage continues into November, and the company ships storage and winter onions from November to January. Other commodities include chili peppers, sweet corn, green beans and spinach.
Volume will remain similar to previous years. Growing conditions were good this year with no severe hailstorms, Marrone said.
Inflation has had an impact on growers throughout the state.
“There’s no escaping it,” Talbott said.
Labor and other costs have risen, and growers must pass these increases on to buyers.
“Ultimately, if you can’t, you don’t stay in business,” he said.
Input costs are not on the decline, Marrone agreed.
“Our empty produce box is 4 cents shy of $3, labor is nearly $20 per hour, and we still only get anywhere from $10 to $30 for the box.”
Despite any price bumps, consumers look forward to some unique offerings from Colorado, said Marilyn Bay, executive director of the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.
The Mira Sol chili pepper grown near Pueblo, Colo., is a large Pueblo chili pepper with a thick wall that grows straight up, making it easier to harvest than other chilies, she said.
It was developed by Michael Bartolo, the vegetable crop specialist and manager of Colorado State University’s Arkansas Valley Research Center in Rocky Ford, and aims to give the Hatch variety a run for its money, she said.
“It’s hard to beat the flavor of some of [Colorado’s] branded products,” Bay said.
