The San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition is here to connect you with local foods at all stages of the farm-to-plate process.
Hungry for something local? Here’s how to find it…
Shop at Farmers Markets
Where & When?
Alamosa: Saturdays 8 am to 1:30 pm, State & 6th Intersection, July-October
*Winter Market in Alamosa: Typically on Saturdays in December at the North River Greenhouse…check NRG’s Facebook for details.
Monte Vista: Fridays 9 am to 1 pm, 1st & Jefferson, July-September
Mercado Del Norte: Thursdays 2-6 pm, Simple Foods Parking Lot, June-September
Creede: Fridays 8:30 to 2:30, E 1st St, Memorial Day – Mid Sep
Blanca: Saturday and Sundays, 9 am – 3 pm, Hwy 160 and Broadway, May – Mid-Oct
San Luis: Saturdays, Main Street, starting June 18
Local Food Ordering & Delivery Service: Valley Roots Food Hub
How to order all-year-round…
Create an online account or login, then add items to your cart a-la-carte style! The Food Hub offers meats, beans, cheeses, butter, nuts, fresh produce, breads, grains, and more. Quantities are available both in wholesale & retail sizes.
Order by 4 pm on Tuesday for Friday delivery, or by 4 pm on Friday for Tuesday delivery.
Pickup locations are located in Alamosa (pictured), Del Norte, Creede, Saguache, & Crestone, or you can pay a home delivery fee. Beyond the SLV, VRFH operates in the Upper Arkansas Valley, South Park, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, & Denver.
The warehouse is located in Mosca, Colorado. SNAP payments are accepted, though SNAP purchases must be made at the warehouse rather than online.
In addition to year-round online grocery shopping, VRFH offers a Summer & Winter Fresh Box CSA Program, where participants pay upfront to receive weekly boxes of fresh produce designed around foods that are readily available and in season.
Learn to Farm at the Rio Grande Farm Park
How can I get my hands in the soil?
RGFP has many different hands-on educational programs for youth and adults.
Commercial Farmers rent a 1 acre (or smaller) plot, participate in various business and agricultural trainings, and sell produce for profit.
The Family Plots are an area for individuals and families to grow for sustenance on the land free of charge. The area got its name because of the Mayan families who started growing in the community gardens at Polston Elementary School before the property was sold to the Rio Grande Farm Park. (Read story of land procurement.)
Volunteer Work Days happen on the last Saturday of the month (usually). Come and help us with a project for a couple hours!
The Education Center is open for groups to visit & learn. Field trips, group volunteer projects, and workshops can be arranged.
Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA): Seasonal Boxes of Fresh Produce
What is this & how do I participate?
Valley Roots Food Hub offers a Summer (13 week) & Winter (2 week) CSA Fresh Box Program that makes seasonal eating easier for both farmers and customers.
With the logistical work taken care of and specially-chosen recipes included in every box, participants don’t even have to think about eating local.
When a large number of individuals buy-in, VRFH can place bulk produce orders from farmers and curate gorgeous boxes of fresh food to participants. Every week looks different, and staff work hard to mix up the ingredients to keep things interesting. Give it a try!
Order a “MoKi” Meal
SLV food truck uses all-local ingredients!
The Mobile Kitchen AKA “MoKi” was created as part of the Local Foods Local Places initiative. By serving delicious, fresh meals made with all local ingredients, the MoKi increases access to SLV-grown foods and inspire seasoned chefs and rookie foodies alike to experiment with healthy, local options.
The MoKi is open for business during summer months at the Alamosa and Monte Vista Farmers Markets and occasionally serves meals at La Puente.
Call (719)580-5977 to inquire about catering or purchase a MoKi cookbook to make local recipes at home (sold at Narrow Gauge Book Co-op & Valley Roots Food Hub).
Visit the Rio Grande Farm Park Farm Stand “Mercodillo en el Rio”
How can I support the small-scale growers of the RGFP?
You may have driven by the Rio Grande Farm Park at the entrance to Alamosa on Hwy 17, or perhaps you have walked by it on the trails near Cole Park…have you ever wondered how you can access the delicious food that grows there?
The Farm Stand is open for business on Wednesday afternoons 4-7 pm. Check the Rio Grande Farm Park Facebook for updated hours, as the stand may be closed due to holidays, weather, or other reasons.
The idea behind the Farm Stand is to increase access to local ingredients beyond farmers markets and help growers expand their business.
Forage
Wild Asparagus? Piñon nuts?
Check out this asparagus-foraging video, and this article about foraging in the SLV!
Support Local Producers
But how do I know which ones?
Peruse the SLV Local Roots Guide, a booklet compiled by our team to help residents and tourists locate spots that provide local goods. A new edition is printed every 4 years.
Pick one up at our office in Alamosa, 412 State Ave or see our digital version.
Garden at Home
What grows well in the SLV?
Stay in the loop! Newsletters will alert you about upcoming workshops, events, job postings, and volunteer opportunities.
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