By Jon Huang
Growing season is here, and there will be many opportunities to support local agriculture and farmers. From Community Supported Agriculture programs to local produce stands, here are some options to consider.
Buying local and directly from farmers keeps money within the local community and gives farmers a larger share of the revenue, directly supporting their farms and helping them continue to grow sustainably. Here are two local producer directories published by Colorado Proud and Palmer Land Conservancy.
https://coloradoproud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/26-Colorado-Farm-Fresh-Directory.pdf
https://www.palmerland.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/Southern-Colorado-Food-Guide-v4.2024.pdf
Some farmers markets, like the Colorado Farm and Art Market, ensure their producers sell only produce they grow in Colorado. For markets that do not have that requirement, ask vendors whether they grow their own produce or are selling secondhand produce. It is also helpful to be aware of what is in season throughout the summer. If you see blueberries, which typically require acidic soils that Colorado lacks, they were likely not grown here. The same applies to tomatoes or peaches sold in May. Here is a chart showing when various fruits and vegetables are in season in Colorado.
https://www.valleyrootsfoodhub.com/colorado-produce-calendar.html
Another option is Community Supported Agriculture programs. For an upfront fee, consumers can support a farm throughout the growing season in exchange for a weekly produce box. There are several local CSA programs in the area. Ahavah Farms (Peyton) offers customizable produce boxes. Good Steward Farms (Peyton) will offer its first CSA this year. Further Up Farms (Elizabeth) offers CSA delivery to Black Forest. Other farms delivering to the El Paso County area include Frost Farms (Fountain) and Mountain Freshies (North Fork Valley), which also delivers to the Colorado Springs area. Do not hesitate to reach out directly to farms for additional information or questions.
Ask your farmer about growing practices. Some farmers who grow organically or regeneratively may not have a U.S. Department of Agriculture certification. This is not uncommon because of the added administrative burden and extra cost. This does not necessarily reflect negatively on the quality of the produce, so do not hesitate to ask questions and learn more.
https://www.ahavahfarm.com/csa
https://goodstewardfarms.csaware.com/store
https://www.frost-livestock.com/produce-honey
https://mountainfreshies.localfoodmarketplace.com/Subscriptions
https://newrootsfarmllc.com/new-roots-farm-csa
Local meat options
Beef is Colorado’s No. 1 agricultural export product, and many family ranches in Colorado sell directly to the public, raise their cattle on the farm on balanced diets from start to finish and support sustainable environmental practices. However, many do not sell to big-box stores because they lack the volume needed to contract with the large meat processors that supply major retailers. While individual cuts can sometimes be more expensive, buying wholesale can narrow that gap.
Looking for local ranchers to purchase from? El Paso County Conservation District President and local rancher Katie Miller, of Heritage Belle Ranch, shared this list of local outlets that serve the El Paso County area:
Rafter W Ranch (Simla)
Frost Farms (Fountain)
Grains From The Plains (Hugo)
Nola Naturals (Avondale)
Larga Vista Ranch (Boone)
Flying B Bar Ranch (Strasburg)
Silverado Ranch (Monument)
Freeman Ranch Beef (Kim)
Black Horse Ranch (Calhan)
SG Cattle Company (Black Forest)
Bringhurst Cattle (Ramah)
PB & J Ranch (Divide)
Bootheel 7 Ranch (Lusk, Wyoming)
Lazy K’s Ranch (Elizabeth)
Ranch Foods Direct (St. Francis, Kansas)
Heritage Belle Ranch (Miller’s own ranch in Calhan)
With increased attention on drought and low domestic cattle numbers, Beth Hayes, Pueblo County agriculture and natural resource specialist and president of the Pueblo County Stockmen’s Association, shared the following:
“(Drought) has made production for ranchers tougher on every level. They are getting hit from an environmental impact with the drought, which leads to financial stress, land stress and questions of how they can feed their animals when they normally have rangeland to graze on. With drought, this is also when we start to see more people selling off any extra animals they can spare, which again dips our cattle supply down, making demand higher and prices continue to skyrocket.”
Local grains
Consider adding whole grains to your diet as an excellent source of fiber and protein whether you are baking or need a healthy source of carbohydrates. The Colorado Grain Chain is an organization dedicated to creating a local network of growers, bakers and distillers to increase education and consumption of locally sourced whole grains. Its website has information on recipes, gut health and an extensive list of local growers and producers.
https://www.coloradograinchain.com/grain_finder
A word from Smith Farms
Smith Farms will enter its 19th season selling in Falcon. The season opening is slated for the usual first week of July. Adam Smith sells produce grown in Rocky Ford, including melons, tomatoes, onions, sweet corn, chiles, squash and beans. The stand also sells outside produce that regularly includes Colorado-grown items such as Palisade peaches.
Smith said water concerns from this dry winter have particularly affected the Lower Arkansas Valley. Since irrigation season for the Catlin Canal opened in mid-March, there have been multiple suspensions of irrigation for farmers in the valley because of low water levels. In drier seasons like this one, Smith explained he will likely do less wholesale growing to prioritize the retail market in Falcon.
“We all understand it’s going to be a tougher year and are planning accordingly to make sure we’ll have enough produce for our customers in Falcon,” he said.
Check out the farm Facebook page for additional updates
https://www.facebook.com/smithsfarmmarket
Farmers markets
- The Colorado Farm & Art Market makes its debut twice a week, bouncing between two locations. Its market in northern Colorado Springs, at the Margarita at 350 Pine Creek Road, will pop up each Saturday from June 21 to October 11, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- BANNING LEWIS RANCH AT VISTA PARK
Dates: Thursdays, May 28 – Aug. 27, 2026
Time: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Where: 8833 Vista Del Pico Blvd.
Dates: Saturdays, May 23 – Oct. 17, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. – 1p.m.
Where: 6845 Shoup Rd.
- For more markets, visit https://www.visitcos.com/blog/farmers-markets-in-colorado-springs/#jlfind-by-location
