San Luis Valley Local Food Newsletter – August 31st, 2023

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In this issue / En este asunto:

  • Job Postings
  • Free Fridge ZOOM calls
  • Indigenizing SNAP
  • MoKi Menu for markets
  • 4 Mercadillos left!
  • Volunteer Workday harvest
  • West Valley Farm Tour
  • Farewell to Armando
  • Save the Date: Shindig
  • LFC press clips
  • Community Events
  • LFC está contratando
  • Clases de educación SNAP
  • Curso de agua @ estado de Adams
  • Menú MoKi para Pridefest
  • celebración correcta
  • Día de trabajo voluntario de Farm Park
  • Tour de la Granja del Valle Norte
  • Mercadillo en el Río
  • PhotoVoice: comparte tu historia SLV
  • Eventos comunitarios

The chilly mornings and cool nights are reminders that our short growing season is coming to an end. Fall will be here soon, and after that, our famously cold winter will settle in. We hope you’ll make the most of the sunshine in the next few weeks by eating fresh foods and spending your days outdoors with people you love most. We’ve surely been making the most of our summer this last week with farm tours, the weekly Mercadillo, visiting the MoKi at Pridefest, and harvesting potatoes at our Volunteer Workday. There’s plenty more things in this issue to keep you busy through September and beyond.

Local Foods Coalition Events Schedule

September 2nd |
Boriqua Dining Experience | Mosca
September 2nd | Indigenizing SNAP Cooking Classes | San Luis Peoples Market
September 16th | Panel Discussion w/ Jae & Nick | Crestone Energy Fair
September 30th | September Volunteer Workday | Rio Grande Farm Park
October 7th | Food Hub Shindig | Mosca, CO

Do you know of or host a community food-related event? Email to be featured at daliah.slvlocalfoods@gmail.com.

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San Luis Valley Local Food Newsletter – August 17th, 2023

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In this issue / En este asunto:

  • LFC is Hiring
  • SNAP Education Classes
  • Water Course @ Adams State
  • MoKi Menu for Pridefest
  • RiGHT Celebration
  • Farm Park Volunteer Workday
  • North Valley Farm Tour
  • Mercadillo en el Rio
  • PhotoVoice: Share your SLV story
  • Community Events
  • LFC está contratando
  • Clases de educación SNAP
  • Curso de agua @ estado de Adams
  • Menú MoKi para Pridefest
  • celebración correcta
  • Día de trabajo voluntario de Farm Park
  • Tour de la Granja del Valle Norte
  • Mercadillo en el Río
  • PhotoVoice: comparte tu historia SLV
  • Eventos comunitarios

The Valley Roots Food Hub enjoyed their South Valley farm tour, exploring the amazing producers who work and thrive in the SLV. There are still two more tours available for our food workers and foodies alike to get a behind the scenes look at their operations and hear firsthand the passion and knowledge that goes into the food they produce. Grab your tickets from the Food Hub HERE.

Local Foods Coalition Events Schedule

August 21st |
North Valley Farm Tour with Valley Roots Food Hub
August 23rd | Mercadillo en el Rio | Rio Grande Farm Park
August 26th | MoKi @ Pridefest | Cole Park, Alamosa
August 28th | Volunteer Workday | Rio Grande Farm Park
September 1st & 2nd | Boriqua Dining Experience | Mosca

Do you know of or host a community food-related event? Email to be featured at daliah.slvlocalfoods@gmail.com.

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San Luis Valley Local Food Newsletter – July 13th, 2023

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In this issue / En este asunto:

  • Gosar Grilling at The Dune Valley
  • What’s in season
  • Grocery merger
  • New Hours at Dune Valley
  • SLV Farm Tours
  • Mercadillo en el Rio
  • Fine Dining Experience
  • Water Art + Science Workshop
  • PhotoVoice tell us your story
  • SLV community events
  • Gosar a la parrilla en The Dune Valley
  • que hay de temporada
  • fusión de comestibles
  • Nuevo horario en Dune Valley
  • Visitas a la granja SLV
  • Mercadillo en el Río
  • Experiencia gastronómica elegante
  • Taller de Arte Acuático + Ciencia
  • PhotoVoice cuéntanos tu historia
  • Eventos de la comunidad SLV

Summer is becoming a season for change here at the Local Foods Coalition. In the pictures below, you might see some new faces: Maria (Food Hub), Jonathan, and Isabela (both at the Farm Park). We’re so happy to welcome these new team members into our local food family! You may also see some faces change in the next couple of months. Liz will be off to Columbia soon, Seth will be transitioning out of his role mid-August, and Josh will be pursuing a new opportunity at the end of the month. We’re blessed to have each and every one of our staff members for all the seasons they are called to serve our San Luis Valley local foods community.

Read on for pics from our opening Mercadillo, farewell to Equity Coordinator, Josh, what’s in season, upcoming workshops and events, and more.

Local Foods Coalition Events Schedule

June 30th |
Storytime & Kids Club with Alamosa Library | Rio Grande Farm Park
July 19th | Mercadillo en el Rio | Rio Grande Farm Park
July 21st | Water Art + Science Workshop | Rio Grande Farm Park
July 29th | South Valley Farm Tour via Valley Roots Food Hub
August 4th & 5th | Boriqua Food 5-Course Food Experience | Root Cellar, Mosca

Do you know of or host a community food-related event? Email to be featured at daliah.slvlocalfoods@gmail.com.

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San Luis Valley Local Food Newsletter – June 30th, 2023

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In this issue / En este asunto:

  • Grocery store merger
  • New market in Mosca
  • SLV Farm Tours
  • Kids’ storytime TODAY
  • Opening Mercadillo
  • Fine Dining Experience
  • Water Art + Science Workshop
  • New Build at RGFP
  • Compost Still Available
  • PhotoVoice is back
  • Farm Park Director Position
  • SLV community events
  • Nuevo mercado en Mosca
  • Visitas a la granja SLV
  • Hora de cuentos para niños
  • Apertura Mercadodillo
  • Experiencia gastronómica elegante
  • Taller de Arte Acuático + Ciencia
  • Obra Nueva en RGFP
  • Compost aún disponible
  • PhotoVoice ha vuelto
  • Puesto de Director de Parque de Granja
  • Eventos de la comunidad SLV

In a healthy local foods system, retailers and farmers markets are a vital piece of the puzzle. Lucky for us, the San Luis Valley now has a newly opened local food market, Root Cellar Market in Mosca. Congratulations to the Valley Roots Food Hub team on the soft opening last week. They’ve worked so hard on this project. Give them a visit & support local foods! Double lucky for us, because the only farmers market in the Valley hosted on the grounds of a farm, Mercadillo en el Rio, is hosting its first market in less than two weeks! Come support and get to know our famers, shop local goods, and grab a delicious bite of food while you connect with community members. Speaking of community members, Amber Middleton, our very first AmeriCorp vista and former Farm Park Director, will be at the opening market. Come say hi!

There’s a lot happening with our Local Foods Coalition programs and beyond. Read on for the details…

Local Foods Coalition Events Schedule

June 30th | Storytime & Kids Club with Alamosa Library | Rio Grande Farm Park
July 12th | OPENING MARKET ~ Mercadillo en el Rio, Rio Grande Farm Park
July 21st | Water Art + Science Workshop | Rio Grande Farm Park
July 29th | South Valley Farm Tour via Valley Roots Food Hub

SLV Farm & Garden Events
Sundays | Alamosa Community Greenhouse, Alamosa
3rd Saturday of the month through September | VEGI, Boyd Garden, Alamosa
Last Saturday of the month | Volunteer Workday, Rio Grande Farm Park
Fridays | Creede Farmers Market
Select Thursdays | Mercado Del Norte
Saturdays, starting July 2nd | Alamosa Farmers Market
Fridays, starting July 9th | Monte Vista Farmers Market
Wednesdays, starting July 12th | Mercadillo en el Rio, Rio Grande Farm Park

Do you know of or host a community food-related event? Email to be featured at daliah.slvlocalfoods@gmail.com.

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San Luis Valley Local Food Newsletter – June 15th, 2023

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In this issue / En este asunto:

  • The Farm Park is Hiring!
  • Opening Mercadillo
  • Seed Exchange
  • Mushroom workshop
  • CSA Fresh Boxes
  • Compost for sale
  • Distillery Opening
  • Farm Tours
  • SLV community events
  • ¡The Farm Park está contratando!
  • Apertura Mercadodillo
  • Intercambio de semillas
  • taller de setas
  • Cajas frescas CSA
  • Composta a la venta
  • Apertura de la destilería
  • Visitas a la Granja
  • Eventos de la comunidad SLV

With all this rain, it sure doesn’t feel like Summer Solstice is next week, but… it is! Farmers markets, farm tours, and CSA fresh boxes are going to be going strong all season long. This summer, we encourage you to build a relationship with your farmers and producers beyond just a transaction at the store or farmers’ market. When things shift and change, our relationships will be what carry us through.

Con toda esta lluvia, seguro que no parece que el solsticio de verano sea la próxima semana, pero… ¡lo es! Los mercados de agricultores, los recorridos por las granjas y las cajas frescas de CSA se mantendrán fuertes durante toda la temporada. Este verano, lo alentamos a construir una relación con sus agricultores y productores más allá de una simple transacción en la tienda o en el mercado de agricultores. Cuando las cosas cambien y cambien, nuestras relaciones serán lo que nos ayude a salir adelante.

Local Foods Coalition Events Schedule

Thursday, June 29th | Outdoor Mushroom Cultivation Class | Rio Grande Farm Park
Wednesdays, July 12th | GRAND OPENING Mercadillo | Rio Grande Farm Park
June 23rd-24th | Soft Opening Event | Dune Valley Distillery & Root Cellar, Mosca
June 24th | Volunteer Workday | 9am – 12pm, Rio Grande Farm Park
June 24th | Going Away Party for Liz | 11am-1pm, Rio Grande Farm Park
July 29th | South Valley Farm Tour via Valley Roots Food Hub

SLV Farm & Garden Events
Sundays | Alamosa Community Greenhouse, Alamosa
3rd Saturday of the month through September | VEGI, Boyd Garden, Alamosa
Last Saturday of the month | Volunteer Workday, Rio Grande Farm Park
Fridays, starting June 2nd | Creede Farmers Market
Thursdays, starting in June | Mercado Del Norte
Mondays in the summer | South Fork Farmers Market
Saturdays, starting July 2nd | Alamosa Farmers Market
Fridays, starting July 9th | Monte Vista Farmers Market
Wednesdays, starting July 12th | Mercadillo en el Rio, Rio Grande Farm Park

Do you know of or host a community food-related event? Email to be featured at daliah.slvlocalfoods@gmail.com.

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San Luis Valley Local Food Newsletter – June 1st, 2023

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In this issue / En este asunto:

  • The Farm Park is Hiring!
  • SLV Photo Showcase
  • Seed Exchange
  • Ag Worker Dinner
  • CSA Fresh Boxes
  • Compost for sale
  • Distillery Opening
  • Farm Tours
  • SLV community events
  • ¡The Farm Park está contratando!
  • Exhibición fotográfica de SLV
  • Intercambio de semillas
  • Cena de trabajadores agrícolas
  • Cajas frescas CSA
  • Composta a la venta
  • Apertura de la destilería
  • Visitas a la Granja
  • Eventos de la comunidad SLV

A strong local food system is like an elaborate web made up of farmers, land owners, producers, shops and markets, drivers, food hubs, and so many people in between. Our San Luis Valley local food system is made stronger by the connections we make with other local food systems. Our Valley Roots Food Hub has spent the past month touring the operations of Farm Runners, East Denver Food Hub, & Mountain Roots Food Project. It’s in these exchanges that we learn and grow together.

Un sistema alimentario local fuerte es como una red elaborada formada por agricultores, propietarios de tierras, productores, tiendas y mercados, conductores, centros de distribución de alimentos y mucha gente en el medio. Nuestro sistema alimentario local del Valle de San Luis se fortalece con las conexiones que hacemos con otros sistemas alimentarios locales. Nuestro Valley Roots Food Hub ha pasado el último mes recorriendo las operaciones de Farm Runners, East Denver Food Hub y Mountain Roots Food Project. Es en estos intercambios que aprendemos y crecemos juntos.

Local Foods Coalition Events Schedule

Sundays | Alamosa Community Greenhouse, Alamosa
3rd Saturday of the month through September | VEGI, Boyd Garden, Alamosa
Last Saturday of the month | Volunteer Workday, Rio Grande Farm Park
Fridays, starting June 2nd | Creede Farmers Market
Thursdays, starting in June | Mercado Del Norte
Mondays in the summer | South Fork Farmers Market
Saturdays, starting July 2nd | Alamosa Farmers Market
Fridays, starting July 9th | Monte Vista Farmers Market
Wednesdays, starting July 12th | Mercadillo en el Rio, Rio Grande Farm Park
Do you know of or host a community food-related event? Email to be featured at daliah.slvlocalfoods@gmail.com.

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San Luis Valley Local Food Newsletter – May 18th, 2023

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In this issue / En este asunto:

  • Jobs & volunteer opportunities
  • Sell at the Mercadillo
  • Important ‘save the dates’
  • Bee workshop
  • Plant sales
  • Compost for sale
  • CSA Fresh Boxes  
  • SLV community events
  • Empleos y oportunidades de voluntariado
  • Vender en el Mercadillo
  • Importante ‘guarda las fechas’
  • Taller de abejas
  • Venta de plantas
  • Composta a la venta
  • Cajas frescas CSA
  • Eventos de la comunidad SLV

“Farming is a dedication of your body,
to the land… and to people.”

~Christa Barfield, urban farmer & entrepreneur

All over the Valley, water is flowing and things are going into the ground. We’ll be fed, nourished, and delighted with flavor in the coming months because of the time, effort, and dedication of our farmers and producers. For this, we are grateful.

We hope you’ll take time this Saturday to pick up organic seed starts at the Alamosa Community Greenhouse, volunteer at the Farm Park, and join Aaron for a bee workshop afterwards (what better way to celebrate World Bee Day?!). Read on for more..

Local Foods Coalition Events Schedule

May 20th | Plant Sale | Alamosa Community Greenhouse
May 20th | CSU Extension Cottage Food Training | Online
May 20th | Volunteer Workday | Rio Grande Farm Park
May 20th | Bee Workshop | Rio Grande Farm Park
May 20th | Boyd Garden Kickoff, VEGI La Puente | State Ave. in between 11th & 12th
May 26th | National Young Farmers Coalition Mixer | Spare Keg Brewery, Alamosa
June 12th | Project Stewards Meeting & Appreciation Dinner | RGFP Ed. Center
June 12th | #SLVFoodProject PhotoVoice Exhibition | RGFP Ed. Center

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SLV Local Food Newsletter – April 20, 2023

Pictured: scenes from our Tree Pruning and our Anaerobic Digestion Workshops at the Farm Park, and volunteers at the RMSER Community Food Pantry at 1619 State Ave, coordinating diaper distribution with community partners.

In this issue / En este asunto:

  • Horno pizza TONIGHT from the MoKi
  • The Farm Park is Hiring!
  • Mercadillo vendors sign-up
  • Kite Flying Event this Saturday
  • New boxes from the Food Hub
  • Online classes with Cooking Matters
  • SLV community events
  • Horno pizza ESTA NOCHE del MoKi
  • ¡The Farm Park está contratando!
  • Registro de vendedores de Mercadillo
  • Evento de vuelo de cometas este sábado
  • Nuevas cajas del Food Hub
  • Clases online con Cooking Matters
  • Eventos de la comunidad SLV

Local Foods Coalition Events Schedule

April 20th | MoKi & Music/Ancient Valley Open Mic | Rio Grande Farm Park
April 22nd | Kites for Kids (FREE KITES) on Earth Day | Rio Grande Farm Park
April 23rd | Compost Extraction Workshop | Rio Grande Farm Park
April 25th | Cooking Matters Workshop | Online
April 29th | Volunteer Workday | Rio Grande Farm Park
April 29th | Generosity on Tap, La Puente | Colorado Farm Brewery
May 2nd | Cooking Matters Workshop | Online
May 3rd | Farm/Park Rx Public Group Walk with SLV Great Outdoors | Rio Grande Farm Park

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LFC Newsletter – Thanks & Giving

Here’s what’s inside our November 10th, 2022 newsletter / Esto es lo que hay dentro de nuestro boletín del 10 de Novembre de 2022:

  • A word from our director / Una palabra de nuestro director
  • We’re Hiring an Executive Coordinator / Estamos Contratando un Coordinador Ejecutivo
  • Americorps Service Opportunities / Oportunidades de servicio de Americorps
  • MoKi: Exciting News! / MoKi: ¡Noticias emocionantes!
  • Rio Grande Farm Park: Greenhouse Update / Rio Grande Farm Park: actualización de efecto invernadero
  • Bilingual Resource Guide / Guía de recursos bilingüe
  • Food Hub: storage crops, fall fruits, & turkey pre-orders / Centro de alimentos: cultivos de almacenamiento, frutas de otoño y pedidos anticipados de pavo
  • Photo Voice Campaign / Campaña Foto Voz
  • Food & Ag Surveys – win $50 dollars! / Encuestas sobre alimentos y agricultura: ¡gane $ 50 dólares!
  • SLV Federal Bankers Opportunity / Oportunidad para Banqueros Federales SLV
  • Conejos & Saguache County Summits / Cumbres de los condados de Conejos y Saguache
  • Colorado Gives Day / Colorado da el día
  • Colorado Food Summit / Cumbre de Alimentos de Colorado
  • Carrot Lentil Chili Recipe / Receta De Chile De Lentejas Y Zanahoria

A Win for Local Foods

¡Una victoria para los alimentos locales!


A word from SLV Local Foods Coalition Director, Liza Marron / Una palabra de la directora de la Coalición de Alimentos Locales de SLV, Liza Marron:


Election Night Reporting is Complete for Saguache County and due to my win, Saguache County will have its first majority-woman board of commissioners ever. Thank you to my honorable competitor Jeff Phillips for a fine race. I will start out my tenure as commissioner as a learner and listener. I want to be the best steward of county government and Saguache County constituents’ resources as I can be – along with my two more seasoned commissioners.

Los informes de la noche de las elecciones están completos para el condado de Saguache y, debido a mi victoria, el condado de Saguache tendrá su primera junta de comisionados mayoritariamente femenina. Gracias a mi honorable competidor Jeff Phillips por una excelente carrera. Comenzaré mi mandato como comisionado como aprendiz y oyente. Quiero ser el mejor administrador posible de los recursos del gobierno del condado y de los electores del condado de Saguache, junto con mis dos comisionados más experimentados.

This is a bittersweet honor in my life as I have to let go of the leadership of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition. We all want this organization to thrive into the future and towards that end, our board and staff with the support of Civic Canopy are working diligently on our transition leadership plan.

Este es un honor agridulce en mi vida ya que tengo que dejar el liderazgo de la Coalición de Alimentos Locales del Valle de San Luis. Todos queremos que esta organización prospere en el futuro y, con ese fin, nuestra junta y el personal, con el apoyo de Civic Canopy, están trabajando diligentemente en nuestro plan de liderazgo de transición.

I am feeling gratitude for the vote of confidence for a new chapter in my life serving closer to home. I am feeling equal gratitude for the amazing people of the SLV who have worked in partnership to foster an equitable local food system here.

Siento gratitud por el voto de confianza para un nuevo capítulo en mi vida sirviendo más cerca de casa. Siento la misma gratitud por las increíbles personas del SLV que han trabajado en asociación para fomentar un sistema alimentario local equitativo aquí.

In Local Food We Trust / En Comida Local Confiamos

Warm Regards / Un cordial saludo,

Liza Marron