San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition

"Foster an equitable local food system that restores the health of the people, community, economy and ecosystem."

SUMMER 2018 CSA FRESH BOX IS HERE!

Early Bird Savings - Save 10% when you purchase your box by May 1st! Normally $450, this brings the total to $405, or roughly $31/week. After May 1st the price will remain $450. Use "EARLYBIRD" discount code at checkout.

The Summer 2018 CSA Fresh Box lasts 13 weeks (June 29th through September), and is a diverse box of the freshest produce harvested each week. As a multi-farm CSA, you are getting a wide variety of items sourced from around the Valley.

Pick-up Locations:

• Alamosa at the SLV Local Food Coalition office starting at 12pm
• Creede at 10am (contact us for delivery details)
• Crestone at Chokecherry Farm starting at 2pm
• Saguache at Saguache Works starting at 3pm
• Salida at Season's Cafe starting at 4pm
• Home Delivery Service may be available, contact us for details/routing

SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks Accepted!

Available only at the Alamosa pickup location
Double Up Food Bucks is a program that effectively doubles your SNAP benefits in purchasing Colorado-grown produce. This means that for SNAP users, the CSA cost is cut in half! For early bird pricing, this translates to $202.50 for the season, or $$15.50/week in SNAP! Payments will need to be made at 412 State Avenue in Alamosa twice a month.

Help us spread the word about SNAP and DUFB! If you know someone that uses SNAP benefits and might be interested in a CSA, please share this opportunity!

CSA Sign Up
Use discount code "EARLYBIRD" at checkout
Sign in to your CSA Market Account »»
Need an account? Sign up! »»
Questions? Feel free to contact Jamie Clifford at valleyroots.marketing@gmail.com or 614-542-735.

Earth Day Work Day with the RGFP - April 2018

Care for the planet and get your hands in the dirt this Earth Day! We have partnered with Alamosa Rotary Club and Milagros Coffee House to celebrate this special day by planting trees around the park, enjoying a picnic of local fare, and grooving to live music. There will be kids activities too; so bring the whole family! Please dress for the weather and wear sunscreen. View Event Poster »»

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/161953697933813/
Details: April 21st, 9 am to 1 pm, at the Rio Grande Farm Park (6935 State Highway 17, Alamosa, CO 81101)

AgriSummit Salida - April 20th-21st

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's SteamPlant Event Center on Friday, April 20th. AgriSummit 2018 will also include a lunch featuring local foods, an early season Farmers Market, a silent auction and a Community Open House. The day's events will be followed by a screening of the documentary film, "Farmers for America".

AgriSummit events will continue through the weekend with farm and ranch tours on Saturday and Savor Chaffee County all weekend!

Follow these links for more information on the event:
Registration
Program & Schedule of Events
Farmers Market
Market Vendor Information
Community Open House
"Farmers For America" Film Screening
AgriSummit Farm & Ranch Tours
Savor Chaffee County

Who Should Attend?

• Producers and Landowners interested in starting an Agritourism business as part of a diversified business model or 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 interested in learning more about local food initiatives and opportunities.
• Educators & Community Members interested in learning more about the role of agriculture in education.

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 »»

San Luis Valley's Farm to School Task Force hosts Harvest of the Month Events alongside Food Service Directors - January 2018

In July of 2017, the LFC and several important partners received a USDA Farm to School Support Services grant to "grease the wheels" in making healthful SLV produce more accessible and feasible for Valley schools and pre-schools to procure. Since the onset of the grant the Task Force has worked with all 14 district Food Service Directors (FSD) in the San Luis Valley to begin overcoming barriers, including changes at the VRFH to lightly process vegetables, creating a Monday delivery route for schools, training FSDs in procurement through the hub's online portal, and working with FSDs to host engaging harvest of the month events in school cafeterias.

The Farm to School Task Force is made up of the Local Foods Coalition, Cooking Matters, the Valley Educational Gardens Initiative (VEGI), and the Integrated Nutrition Education Program (INEP).

View larger press release »» of our January event in Creede, and check out the Farm to School tab in our Projects section for other press releases.

Colorado Gives - Give Where You Live

Support organizations that are essential to protecting and nurturing quality of life in Colorado. Your community donation is greatly appreciated.

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 »»

RMFU SLV Chapter Biz Meeting Welcoming all current RMFU members and those who are interested in becoming a RMFU member. Join Us on Saturday April 7th at 6pm for the RMFU (Rocky Mountain Farmers Union) SLV Chapter Business Meeting and Square Dance! View Event Poster »»

CO Farm Brewery Grand Opening Join Colorado Farm Brewery on April 6th & 7th for their Grand Opening Event! Witness the true Renaissance of Beer. View Event Poster »»

AgriSummit Salida Join Us on Friday April 20th & Saturday April 21st for the AgriSummit 2 day event at at Salida's SteamPlant Event Center featuring networking, discussions, lunch and silent auction. Early registration closes April 11th. Event Registration »» Additional Event Links are posted above in the related event section.