"To foster an equitable local food system that restores the health of the people, community, economy and ecosystem."
Learn more about the SLV Local Foods Coalition and Programs!
If you are interested in learning more about the SLV Local Foods Coalition and our programs, we welcome you to join our E-News Mailing Lists. You will receive a bi-weekly newsletter containing information about upcoming events and opportunities for all of our programs you choose to be informed about. Join our mail lists by selecting the "Join Our E-News" above. We look forward to sharing our news with you! Read our current LFC Early October Newsletter »»
Celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day! - October 12th, 2020
How you can celebrate: Learn about your local ecosystem: Most people know about the relationship between milkweed and monarch butterflies. Consider the cottonwood tree, a native tree to this region and its many uses for shade, building, firewood, drums, and medicines. Female trees produce green capsules, buds are yellow-green or olive-green, thicker than the twigs they grow from, and covered with a sticky resin. This resin is very useful in making pain healing balms.
You can also think of the impact you can have by planting native species and reconnecting the health to your yard and neighborhood to its original ecosystem. The U.S. Forest Service has all sorts of resources about gardening with native species on its website Celebrating Wildflowers. Visit US Forest website to learn more »» Take some time to learn more about the indigenous history of the San Luis Valley at the Southern Ute website »»
Poultry-Raising Workshop at the Farm Park - October 16-17th, 2020
The RGFP will be hosting a training by Main Street Project on October 16-17 about raising pastured chickens for meat.
If you are interested in being part of a local meatbird collaborative and participating in this training to learn more about raising meat poultry locally please email Erin - Ag and Ed Coordinator »»
RGFP October Volunteer Work Day, Bat Boxes! - Saturday, October 31st, 2020
Join us for a festive celebration surrounding bats and the implementation of bat boxes at the Farm Park. We will learn why these creatures are important in our ecosystem. We may utilize your help with other tasks that need to be done in preparation for winter. Bring drinking water, a mask, and warm clothes! See Event Info here »»
Our 2020 LOCAL Harvest Celebration was a success! - August 30th, 2020 Rio Grande Farm Park
We would like to share the live stream portion of our bi-annual Local! Festival event held at the Rio Grande Farm Park via our Facebook page. View Local! 2020 Event Video »»
The SLV Local Foods Coalition hosted event was a community celebration inspired by the bounty of the agricultural harvest. This event was an opportunity to experience the tastes of the San Luis Valley, connect with farmers, and learn what local groups are doing to support local growers along with live music, food trucks, demonstrations, interviews, farm tour and more! Thank you to all attendees and participants for joining us and for making this Covid Safe event fun!!
Good News! Stretch Your P-EBT Dollars with Double Up Food Bucks!
For Colorado families with school-age children, a new food benefit called Pandemic EBT, or P-EBT, is here to help! P-EBT is available for families who qualify for free or reduced meals at school but missed it because of schools closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic; eligible households may receive up to $279 per child that will support the family in creating healthy, wholesome meal options for kids who are now home during the school day. Read More about P-EBT Benefit »»
Apply for SNAP Benefits - SNAP is here to help during COVID
SNAP the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides a monthly supplement for purchasing nutritious food. Benefits are available to support families as well as the local economy. Temporary changes due to COVID-19 make it easier to apply and may increase your benefit amount. View the Apply Info in English »» View the Apply Info in Spanish »»
The San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition is now providing remote SNAP application appointments. Anyone wanting food assistance can call to complete an application. To schedule an appointment, email snapslv@slvlocalfoods.org, call 719-937-2319, or text SNAP to 719-539-5606. You can also apply for SNAP benefits online at Colorado PEAK »» or by calling your local human services department. Emergency allotments for SNAP recipients not receiving the maximum amount will be issued on May 18-20th. Go to Hunger Free Colorado »» for any SNAP or food resource updates. Local food resources can be found at SLV COVID Food and Resource Directory »» Visit the Valley Roots Food page to Learn where SNAP is Accepted »»
COVID 19 - Make a Homemade Mask
Learn how to make a homemade face mask to protect yourself. Watch Video »»
How to Cook Dry Beans and Healthy Bean Recipes
Check out this complementary instructional video "How to Make Beans" from Cooking Matters Nutrition Educator Lois Harvie and Local Foods Local Places Program Director Abe Rosenberg. View here smaller or Picture in a Picture or Visit YouTube »»
Monthly Radio Show with the Local Foods Coalition featured on KRZA 88.7fm
We are excited to share our new radio show organized by our Show Manager, Abe Rosenberg! Please join us from 8:30-9am every third Thursday of the month for the Local Food Local Places Radio Show »». We will post all shows on our website including past shows for you to listen to at your convenience. Please visit our new Local Foods, Local Places program »» to learn more about LFC local efforts connecting the San Luis Valley with local initiatives.
October 15th, 2020 - LFLP Radio Show by Ally Jean Arnold Discussion on farming/ranching in the Valley & LFC's movement and vision Featuring Guest Trudi Kretsinger - Founding Member of the SLV Local Foods Coalition
It is not everyday that we as a society are given pause due to some thing that is beyond our control. A pandemic is now upon us and our society has been affected throughout with school closings, event cancellations, and social distancing being encouraged. The state of the economy is profound.
It is during these times that the significance of a local food system is never more clear. If you haven't engaged with us we invite you now to join us in the Colorado cornucopia that is here at your fingertips. It's important to keep a continual investment into those vital social structures no matter the state of the world. In times of need we want these structures and systems to be healthy and fully functional.
We want to share with you some of our Standard Operating Procedures so you can be confident in your local food sourcing:
We follow a USDA Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices Food Safety Plan which is very strict in constant and ubiquitous sanitation and bringing mindfulness to sources of contamination and executing preventative measures.
We routinely wash hands several times throughout the day.
We regularly sanitize work surfaces.
During this time we will also be temperature testing staff, and sending home any symptomatic staff, to ensure there are no emerging symptoms in the work place.
If you have any questions, insights, or concerns please feel free to respond to this newsletter.
On behalf of the Board and Staff of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition and the Valley Roots Food Hub, we hope you and your family are safe and healthy and finding your needs met.
We would like to help your food needs by providing the resource of the Valley Roots Food Hub whereby you can order healthy affordable local sourced foods to be delivered weekly. Please view our YouTube Video to learn more about ordering and deliveries to your area - How to order from the Valley Roots Food Hub »»
For individuals and families for their homes: CSA Market »»
Market Orders are open for 2 weekly placement times and delivery schedules. - Orders placed by 4pm on Friday will receive Tuesday delivery - Orders placed by 4pm on Tuesday will receive Friday delivery A $250 Order Minimum will receive Complimentary Delivery! View YouTube Video - How to order from the Valley Roots Food Hub »»
In local food we trust,
Nick and staff
Generous Funding Supports the Local Foods Coalition!
The Local Foods Coalition has been blessed with several grants in the past months to support our ongoing local food system work, so we would like to take the opportunity to recognize their generosity:
San Luis Valley Conservation and Connection Initiative
RSF Social Finance Seed Fund
USDA Rural Business Development Grant
Alamosa Marketing District
Adams State University Food Studies Program 2019
Join the ASU for participation in their Bachelor of Arts Food Interdisciplinary Studies Program! Exciting and unique career opportunities in learning about food production and marketing through Internships with hands on practice on campus and in the community. Including emphasis in Health & Wellness, Sustainability, Businees & Food Policy, Sociology / Social Justice. View Studies Flyer »»Visit Adams State University Food Studies Program »»
The Green Gold of San Luis
Enjoy this historical video shared by the Valley Roots Food Hub from their recent February 12th newsletter.
Vacuum Cooling in Agriculture The agriculture of the San Luis Valley is old, time tested, and proven. The town of San Luis has the oldest continuously-used water right in the State starting in 1852. Folks have been producing quality products here for a long time and it just keeps getting better.
Check out this old video about the lettuce production during the 1950s. For all of us tasked with keeping produce cool, check out these vacuum cooled lettuce tubes and ice packed rail way cars! Pull a vacuum on lettuce heads and the water boils away which is evaporative cooling!! View Historic Video »»
Interested in getting more involved with Double Up Food Bucks?
LiveWell Colorado is actively working to transform access to nutritious food in the entire state. One of its major programs, Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB), allows SNAP recipients to receive $1 for every $1 spent on SNAP-eligible food, up to $20. These "double up food bucks" can then be used to purchase fresh Colorado-grown fruits and vegetables. DUFB was started in 2016 and has helped people bring home more healthy fruits and vegetables while supporting local farmers. LiveWell Colorado is taking DUFB to the next level and is looking to develop and increase community engagement.
In order to do this, LiveWell will be working with partners across the state to develop the Community Food Advocates program. This program works with local ambassadors to share the DUFB program with community members and organizations to increase participation. View DUFB Program Press Release »»
We are actively seeking current or past recipients of SNAP and DUFB participants as Community Food Advocates. We are currently looking for Advocates in Southwest Colorado (Montezuma and La Plata Counties, with some outreach in Archuleta and Dolores Counties), Denver, Garfield County, Montrose County, and the San Luis Valley.
Community Food Advocates will partner with community members to support the DUFB program. Advocates will promote and increase community participation in the program. Stipends are provided. View DUFB Advocate Info »»
Tierra Vida Farm - High Production Micro Farm Presentation - March 26th, 2018
Daniel Fullmer shares his insightful presentation using raised beds and compost in the Desert Southwest with emphasis on practices of minimal to no tillage, composting, cover cropping, rotational grazing, intercropping, and transplanting. View Tierra Vida Farm Presentation »»
COVID Hotline for SLV
Public Health Hotline is available to address COVID 19 Outbreak.
For English call: 719-480-8719 For Spanish call: 719-315-5019
Hotline operates 9am to Noon and 4pm to 7pm with a way to leave a message.
SLV Food Resources Directory
The Local Foods Coalition's community task team has compiled a helpful resource page to address food resources available for residents of the San Luis Valley to utilize along with various Colorado State resources.
Source local foods weekly from our Southern Colorado Foodshed and thru the Denver Cooperative via:
How you can celebrate:
We would like to share the live stream portion of our bi-annual Local! Festival event held at the Rio Grande Farm Park via our Facebook page. 
LiveWell Colorado is actively working to transform access to nutritious food in the entire state. One of its major programs, Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB), allows SNAP recipients to receive $1 for every $1 spent on SNAP-eligible food, up to $20. These "double up food bucks" can then be used to purchase fresh Colorado-grown fruits and vegetables. DUFB was started in 2016 and has helped people bring home more healthy fruits and vegetables while supporting local farmers. LiveWell Colorado is taking DUFB to the next level and is looking to develop and increase community engagement.
