by Central Staff
Community farm markets and gardens are sprouting up all over the Central Colorado region. From Westcliffe to Cañon City, Alamosa to Gunnison, consumers are being given a larger choice of where to buy their edibles as well as knowledge of their origins.
One of the newer local farm markets is now held alongside the Arkansas River among the red rocks of Cotopaxi. Begun in 2013 by producer-owned Big Sky Cooperative, the goal is to create a resource for healthy foods not grown with chemicals or genetic modification. The market offers regional organic produce, fruit, canned goods, baked goods, honey, eggs, local art and locally produced products, hand-thrown pottery and soap, and this year will be offering lunch plates with local, grass-fed burgers.
Vendors are charged only space rental at the Cotopaxi Market with no commissions on sales nor additional weekly fees, making it affordable for smaller home producers to participate. A community table for up to two vendors is also offered on a first come, first served basis for smaller producers who will be asked only to contribute a small portion of their sales.
On Aug. 22 and 23, 2014 they will be hosting an art show at the market with no entrance fee for area artists, according to co-op member Kathy Reese. The market is hosted by the Cotopaxi Community Church on U.S. Hwy. 50 near the intersection of CR 1-A and will run every Friday from June 13 through September 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information, contact Kathy at (719) 942-3700.
