Colorado
After a dry, unusually warm January, key Western river basins are in severe snow drought. With irrigation allocations at 0%, one Colorado producer warns tough planting decisions could reshape this year’s crop mix.
The removal of categorical exclusions sets a dangerous precedent that will force interstate shippers to navigate a maze of new fees and safety hurdles.
The seven states that depend on the Colorado River must agree on how to manage the river’s dwindling water by Feb. 14. If they don’t, the feds could step in and litigation could follow.
2025 Top Producer of the Year Marc Arnusch is an agent of change, sharing how Arnusch Farms reinvents 10% to 15% of the operation every year.
Here’s what the four ballot measures, which received strong support at the polls, will mean for each state.
While Nebraska’s lawsuit claims stolen water and stonewalling, Colorado says there’s no case since there’s no canal.
Off-year elections don’t get much attention, but there are some areas of agricultural interest for these states’ voters to weigh in on during upcoming 2025 elections.
The fast-casual restaurant focuses on high-quality ingredients sourced from farmers — like fresh produce, humanely raised meats and cage free eggs — celebrated the grand opening with a longhorn parade.
Colorado’s San Luis Valley, a heavy hitter in fresh potato production, is poised for another strong season.
Healthy Family Project brought together over 100 dietitians to raise money and connect at the Food Nutrition Conference & Expo in Denver.
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.
The Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association has had a busy summer — and there’s more to come, said Marilyn Bay Drake, executive director.
Potatoes may be the No. 1 produce commodity the state’s growers ship, but a variety of other tasty fruits and vegetables emanate from Colorado each summer and early fall as well.
Supplies of a few local products could be a bit tight this summer, but for the most part, Colorado distributors will have plenty of good-quality fruits and vegetables to sell.
Alpine Summit Sales will have an extensive line of fruits and vegetables this summer, sourcing from varied growing areas including Colorado, California and Mexico.
Big Sky Trading is expanding its organic offerings, said J.T. Pickett, general operations manager and organic produce buyer.
A year ago, Colo-Pac Produce completed a major cooler expansion that greatly increased its cold storage capacity.
A produce box program for consumers that Denver-based 5280 Produce launched about five years ago has exploded as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
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.
While vice president Mike Robertson said it’s pretty much business as usual for Lakewood, Colo.-based Pacific Shipping & Trading Co. Inc., he added, “I can’t say it’s totally normal.”
Tough regulations of well pumping for farmers causing issues
Peaches and apples dominate Colorado’s summer fruit deal, and the harvests appeared to be on time this year, grower-shippers said.
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.
Farm Fresh Direct, Monte Vista, Colo., has promoted Lonnie Gillespie to a new position for the company, chief organic officer.
Cindy Adkins, who marketed organic fingerling potatoes in Colorado’s San Luis Valley for 22 years, is now a sales representative for MountainKing Potatoes, Houston.
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.