San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition
"Foster an equitable local food system that restores the health of the people, community, economy and ecosystem."
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Youth Camp - June 2019
 The RMFU Youth Cooperative Leadership Camp is just around the corner. Registration is open with a discount available if you register before April 30th. Visit the RMFU registration page at Cooperative Leadership Camp »» If you have any questions about camp details, please reach out to the RMFU Director of Education / Camp Director - Jennifer Bahr at jennifer.bahr@rmfu.org or call 303.283.3550. View the brocure to learn more about the camp at 2019 Camp Brochure - help us get the word out!
The RMFU summer camp is offered June 10-14 for grades 2-6 and June 17-21 for grades 7-12. The camp is hosted in the mountains near Bailey, CO about 40 miles from Denver.
Additionally, we are looking for individuals interested in becoming part of the Camp Staff team. If you are interested or know of someone who may be interested in attending camp, please let Jennifer, know.
State of the Basin Symposium 2019
If you missed the chance to attend the first Rio Grande State of the Basin Symposium at Adams State University (ASU) in February, you'll be glad to know that the keynote talks are now available for viewing online! They are posted on ASU's Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center YouTube channel »»
Guidestone Agri Summit - April 19th, 2019
 AgriSummit is a day-long event highlighting opportunities for networking, discussion and learning focused on local food production and agritourism in the Heart of the Rockies region. Held at Salida' SteamPlant Event Center on Friday, April 19th. AgriSummit 2019 will also include a lunch featuring local foods, an early season Farmers Market, a silent auction and a FREE Community Open House, complete with local libations tastings, a seed swap, a silent auction and live music by local bluegrass band Smeltertown!
Who Should Attend?
- Producers and Landowners interested in:
- starting an Agritourism business as part of a diversified business model
- who currently have agritourism events on their land and would like to share their model or learn how to strengthen
their current agritourism activities.
- Beginning Producers interested in learning more about resources and techniques for producing food in the Central CO Rockies region.
- Local Food Enthusiasts & Community Members interested in learning more about local food initiatives and opportunities.
New this Year! Join us Thursday, April 18th in the afternoon for a Farm Tour highlighting area farms, ranches and agritourism sites, followed by a Meet & Greet with CO Commissioner of Agriculture, Kate Greenberg. Pre-registration is required for the Farm Tour, but the Meet & Greet is free and open to the public, to be held at Soulcraft Brewing in Salida from 5-6:30pm. Kate will give an address at 5:30pm.
Follow these links for more information on the event:
Program & Schedule of Events »»
Registration Details »»
Farmers Market & Market Vendor Information »»
Community Open House »»
Thursday Farm & Ranch Tour »»
La Puente!s 2019 Hunger Education Week - April 7th-12th
Hunger Education Week is a series of events designed to increase awareness about the realities of hunger in our communities and what we can do to help. 
Generosity On Tap - Supporting La Puente's Food Bank Network - April 27th
In conjunction with Hunger Education week please join us in supporting the Food Bank Network of San Luis Valley!
Buy Auction Event Tickets - Generosity On Tap »» Be sure to watch Chet narrate the story of La Puente video on event page!
Adams State University Food Studies 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 »»
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 »»
LFC Coalition Meeting Outcome in Conejos
Agricultural producers from Conejos County gathered in La Jara Thursday night, along with the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition (LFC), to discuss local agricultural issues. This meeting, hosted by LFC and Cactus Hill Farm, was an opportunity to further foster the relationship between agricultural producers and the work of the Local Foods Coalition. The Local Foods Coalition serves the entire San Luis Valley and works to create an equitable local food system in the San Luis Valley in partnership with producers and consumers. Community ideas, producers' experiences, and challenges inform the strategic direction of the Coalition as it seeks to support community farms, increase farm-to-table practices and educate the public about the advantages of buying local. The many projects of the LFC include Farm to School in partnership with all 14 school districts of the SLV, the Rio Grande Farm Park, the Cooking Matters education program as well as the Valley Roots Food Hub which has helped connect food producers with markets around the San Luis Valley, Salida and other parts of New Mexico and Colorado. View Community Meeting Info »»
  
Liza Marron recognized for the 2018 Dr. Virgilio Licona Community Health Leadership Award!
 Last week, the Foundation recognized Liza Marron for the 2018 Dr. Virgilio Licona Community Health Leadership Award at the Colorado Health Symposium. This annual award program seeks to recognize Coloradans who are finding innovative and effective strategies to overcoming community health barriers across the state.
A true champion for social justice, Liza has relentlessly shined a light on community health issues by raising the voices of those left in the shadows. Throughout her career, Liza has fought to bring health in reach for more Coloradans by working to develop programs and policies that advance food access and security, especially for migrant workers. Of her many successes, Liza has also worked on a mentoring program for asset-challenged youth, that inspired her to become a licensed foster care home, specializing in hard-to-place youth.
 Today, as the founding director of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition (SLVLFC), she is helping to foster an equitable food system that restores the health of the people, community, economy and ecosystem. Key programs and projects underway at SLVLFC include the Valley Roots Food Hub aggregation and distribution enterprise complete with commercial kitchen for value-added production; the Rio Grande Farm Park, a farmer incubator and recreation park; Cooking Matters program that teaches families to cook healthy on a budget; and the San Luis Valley Farm-to-School Task Force.
The award program is named after the late Dr. Virgilio Licona, who passed in 2016. Dr. Licona worked to improve the health of Coloradans most in need, focusing his expertise as a physician in rural health care delivery and migrant health. A nationally recognized advocate for social justice, he brought a critical voice to some of the most important conversations and decisions related to how we can bring health in reach for all Coloradans. Learn more about the award program and Liza's work to enrich healthy minds, bodies and communities.
Read more about the Community Health Leadership Award at the Valley Courier.
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.
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.
For more information, please review the additional PDF page »»
Tierra Vida Farm - High Production Micro Farm Presentation 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 »»
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Guidestone Agri Summit |
Join Us at Salida's SteamPlant Event Center on Friday, April 19th for the Guidestone AgriSummit.
AgriSummit is a day-long event highlighting opportunities for networking, discussion and learning focused on local food production and agritourism in the Heart of the Rockies region. Please see detailed event info with links above.
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La Puente Hunger Education Week |
Join Us from April 7th-12th for Hunger Education Week. A series of events designed to increase awareness about the realities of hunger in our communities and what we can do to help.
View Event Details »»
Also, join us for the Generosity on Tap Auction to support the La Puente Food Bank Network.
Buy Auction Event Tickets»»
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