Western Colorado Food Action Maps Make Buying/Eating Local Easier
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CO Farm & Food Alliance releases maps of local food markets, cafes, breweries, and more
Paonia, CO - Today the Colorado Farm & Food Alliance released the next two maps in its series of “Local Food Action Maps,” depicting local food, drink, and action options in western Colorado. This public tool, developed using Google Maps, works to show four types of local food operations, businesses and organizations that are part of the regional “foodshed.”
“We are excited to share these maps to help Coloradans and visitors alike connect with local food choices, support local businesses and agriculture, and to network with each other. “ said Killian Rush, Development and Outreach Manager with the Colorado Farm & Food Alliance. “These maps are a visual testament to how vibrant the local food industry is in Colorado, and our goal is to develop projects that support economic security for businesses, farms and workers, and that build more resilient food systems.”
The two maps released today are the Central Colorado River/Roaring Fork and the Upper Colorado/Green watersheds, which include Mesa, Garfield, Pitkin, Eagle, Summit, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt and Grand Counties. These follow last month’s release of the Gunnison Basin/Lower Dolores map, including Delta, Montrose, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Ouray, San Miguel, and Dolores counties.
The three maps, covering seventeen counties, locate over 450 local food markets, restaurants, and organizations. They are all available to share or embed on websites, in online media articles, and through other public channels. Find them all on our website at https://www.colofarmfood.org/local-food-action-maps
“I have been working with the Colorado Farm & Food Alliance since last year to identify businesses and organizations, compile information, and to consider how to make that most useful,” Lauren Trayor, the Alliance’s Mapping and Research Associate said. “We want people to share it. We want it to boost the great work local organizations are doing, and to promote local businesses. We have created these maps as a public tool and we want to see them used.”
The maps are intended to help consumers connect with more local food and drink options, and with opportunities to support local organizations working for increased food security. Colorado Farm & Food Alliance hopes to feature some of the region’s local food businesses and organizations in its blogs and other content, and to identify other areas for collaboration.
“The Local Food Action Maps help consumers support local food, drink, and action,” said Pete Kolbenschlag, the organization’s director. “And they depict businesses, farms, and organizations that the Colorado Farm & Food Alliance seeks to highlight and connect. We work to grow local food networks to strengthen economic security, to promote social equity and better food access, and to share sustainability-minded practices. We also provide a platform for taking action on climate change and for the conservation of our healthy lands and clean water.”
Local Food Action Maps are a part of Colorado's Farm & Food Alliance’s Resilient & Secure Foodsheds program, food networks project. Local Food Action Maps include local food markets (and certain on-farm sales); local drink producers such as breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries; restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops that have a commitment to serving local products or using local ingredients; and, organizations working on food access and supporting the local agriculture and food economies.
The mission of the Colorado Farm & Food Alliance is to connect and build capacity within the local farm and food industry, in order to: support and enhance cooperation, best practices, and market opportunities; work for a more just and sustainable food system and society; and, to engage diverse farm and food leaders as climate action and conservation advocates. The Colorado Farm & Food Alliance welcomes participation from a range of organizations, individuals, and businesses on our various projects.
The three Local Food Action Maps that have been released will be followed by others in the coming weeks. These will include San Luis Valley/Upper Rio Grande, Upper Arkansas/Upper S. Platte, and Four Corners/Animas maps. If you have a business or organization that might belong on a map, we invite you to submit it for consideration in an upcoming update, at www.colofarmfood.org/take-action-resilient-secure-foodsheds.
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Media resources
We can provide local food leaders for phone or on-camera interviews, along with high-resolution images, B-roll video, and additional information upon request.
Links to individual Local Food Action Maps
Gunnison Basin/Lower Dolores (Delta, Montrose, Gunnison, Ouray, Hinsdale, San Miguel, and Dolores counties)
https://www.colofarmfood.org/local-food-action-maps/gunnison-lower-dolores
Central Colorado/Roaring Fork (Pitkin, Garfield, Eagle, Mesa counties)
https://www.colofarmfood.org/local-food-action-maps/central-colorado-river-basin
Upper Colorado/Yampa/Green (Rio Blanco, Moffat, Routt, Summit, Grand counties)
https://www.colofarmfood.org/local-food-action-maps/upper-colorado-green-river-basins