Posts Tagged ‘agritourism’

Here Come the Cherries…Grand Junction-Palisade Cherry Crop Debuts in Mid-June

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Grand Junction, Colo. – Here they come, headed from the west in huge droves, ready to invade kitchens, picnic areas, and lunch boxes.

No, not killer bees. Not the cicadas invading the Midwest. They’re cherries – the first of the famed Colorado Western Slope fruits of the season.

Sweet Bing and Lambert cherries are expected to start coming in around late-June, according to the Grand Junction Visitor and Convention Bureau. Deep red Montmorency cherries will follow about July 15. Both crops are preludes to summer and fall crops of apricots, peaches, pears, and apples.

Bing and Lambert cherries, ideal for eating fresh, will last up to two weeks if refrigerated.  Tart Montmorency cherries are best-suited for pies and other baked goods, and for canning. However used, cherries are low in fat, sodium-free, and good sources of fiber and Vitamin C.

Grand Junction-Palisade cherries will be available at most major supermarkets and health-food chains throughout Colorado, specifically at Whole Foods and City Markets.  Fresh-picked cherries, cherry products, and other local produce are also available at roadside sides and orchards throughout the Grand Junction and Palisade area. For a list of orchards and roadside fruit stands, check with the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau at 800-962-2547 or www.visitgrandjunction.com. 

According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Markets Division, consumers should select cherries that are plump with firm, smooth, and brightly colored skins, and with green stems attached. Avoid cherries with blemishes, rotted or mushy skins, or those that are shriveled and dull.

At an altitude of 4,507 feet, and with more than 275 days of sunshine annually, Grand Junction enjoys warm summers and moderate spring, fall and winter seasons. For more information, contact the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau at 800-962-2547 or www.visitgrandjunction.com.

Established in 1990, the Grand Junction Visitor and Convention Bureau (GJVCB) is a department of the City of Grand Junction. Proactively marketing the Grand Junction area, the GJVCB serves as a liaison between area visitors, conventions, meetings, weddings, and reunions, and the businesses that will host them. For more information and a visitor guide, call 800-962-2547 or visit www.vistgrandjunction.com.

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Three Southwest Colorado Counties Awarded $15,000 Matching Grant to Promote Agritourism

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Gaylene Ore, Ore Communications, 970-887-2536/gaylene@orecommunications.com

Three Southwest Colorado Counties Awarded $15,000 Matching Grant to Promote Agritourism
“Canyons & Mountains Agri-Tour Program” promotes local food producers, wine- and brewmakers

Delta County, Colo. (March 17, 2010) – Delta, Montrose and Ouray Counties have been awarded a $15,000 matching grant from the Colorado Tourism Office to market the Uncompaghre Valley as a regional mecca for fresh, local food producers, winemakers, microbrewers, and festivals that feature local products.

Delta, Montrose and Ouray Counties are linked figuratively by their shared agricultural heritage and are physically connected by U.S. Highway 50 and a number of scenic byways.  These routes offer travelers abundant opportunities to discover the wonderful depth of edible regional attractions.  Located in a fertile valley, Delta, Montrose and Ouray Counties produce some of the best fruits, vegetables and meats anywhere in Colorado. The climate – warm days combined with cooler nights – increases the sugars in the produce, while the fertile ocean bottom soils provide rich nutrients.

Kelli Hepler, Tourism Coordinator for the Delta County Tourism Board, says the counties wanted to capitalize on the growing trend toward agritourism.  “The Uncompahgre Valley, with its alpine forests, dark canyon walls and rolling pastoral hillsides, is a rather undiscovered foodie region,” notes Hepler.

She adds that the valley is home to fourteen wineries, three distilleries, three microbreweries, four artisan cheese makers, four farmer’s markets, two chocolate makers, a tea company, and numerous growers of everything from heirloom potatoes to bison meat.  Hepler says visitors may take part in tours and tastings, as well as enjoy a number of festivals and events, ranging from bloom tours to chef and farm dinners, grill festivals, and how-to workshops.  Additionally, notes Hepler, the program will help agribusinesses who might not otherwise have a budget to market to travelers. 

“This grant allows us to more clearly connect the dots for tourists who want to learn about the foods we eat and the producers who have a story to tell and goods to share.  A wonderful – and tasty! – experience awaits.”  

Hepler says that the Canyons and Mountains Agri-Tour Program, launching this spring, will include a website outlining itineraries, suggested times to visit for the peak harvest, a list of agri-related festivals and events, and links to travel-related businesses and growers.  Additionally, a guide map will be created to showcase the growers and producers in the Uncompaghre Valley, encouraging travelers to locate agribusinesses that offer tours, tastings and special events.  Advertisements will also be placed in publications located along Colorado’s Front Range region. 

About Delta County, Colo. (www.westerncolorado.org)
Delta County, Colo., is located on Colorado’s western slope at the base of Grand Mesa, one of the largest flattop mountains in the world. With more than 281,000 acres dedicated to agriculture, Delta County is home to the towns of Cedaredge, Crawford, Delta, Eckert, Hotchkiss, Orchard City and Paonia.

About Montrose (www.visitmontrose.com)
Montrose, located in southwest Colorado, is a uniquely-authentic town that has carved out a place for itself in the landscape and culture of Colorado.  A multi-faceted town, Montrose serves up layer upon layer of discoveries, each more unique than the last.  Whether you are looking for adventure, agritourism, history, culture, shopping, fine dining or anything in between, Montrose has a little something for everyone. 

About Ouray (www.ouraycolorado.com)
Located at 7,700 feet above sea level in southwest Colorado, the National Historic District of Ouray is surrounded on three sides by 13,000-foot peaks, earning it the nickname “The Switzerland of America.”  Ouray is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, offering rock climbing, hiking, four-wheeling and mountain biking in the summer and ice climbing, backcountry skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. 

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Mesa Verde Country(R) Agritourism Gets Boost from U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

– Grant helps Bureau tie together agriculture, archaeology –

In southwest Colorado’s Mesa Verde Country(R), agriculture has historically been a key piece of the cultural and economic fabric. Now, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the area is making that history its present and future.

Mesa Verde Country will use the $50,000 grant for its “Agricultural Adventures” program, designed to communicate the benefits and details of local producers to regional and national audiences.

“Agritourism is a popular term, and a fast-growing industry, but making it tangible and accessible to the public can be challenging,” explains Lynn Dyer, director of the Mesa Verde Country Visitor Information Bureau. “Our intent is to help people learn and experience agriculture through real, hands-on experiences. That’s agritourism.”

Key elements of the program include a new brochure and expansion of the Mesa Verde Country Web site (www.mesaverdecountry.com) to tie together the archaeology, agriculture and scenic attractions of the area. For example, how to incorporate the relationships between Mesa Verde National Park, a Navajo-Churro sheep ranch, a brewery and a ranch in the area’s historic McElmo Canyon. The site will expand to offer podcasts with local farmers and ranchers, real-time information on farmers markets and special events, as well as “how-to” presentations for aspiring farmers and gardeners.”

The “Agricultural Adventures” section of the Web site already makes it easy and fun to explore the region’s bounty. Newly added pages contain information on every form of local agriculture, says Dyer, ranging from an antique tractor museum and historic agricultural sites to a state-of-the-art biofuel production facility. Visitors will find detailed information on:

-Ranches: Yak, alpaca, camel and reindeer ranches; tours and stays at working ranches

-Farms, orchards and mills: Tours; pick-your-own opportunities for apples, peaches, pears, pumpkins and other produce.

-Livestock: Auctions and processors of locally-produced cattle, sheep and hogs.

-Produce: Farm stands, farmers markets featuring locally-grown produce and related products.

-Food, wine, beer: Local distilleries, restaurants, wineries, and microbreweries, as well as local coffee brewers..

-Greenhouses and nurseries: Native plants, heirloom seeds, and other locally grown products.

For information on Mesa Verde Country® agricultural destinations and events, call 800-530-2998 or visit www.mesaverdecountry.com.

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Contacts: Lynn Dyer, Mesa Verde Country® Visitor Information Bureau, 800-530-2998, lynnd@mesaverdecountry.com

Gaylene Ore, Ore Communications, 970-887-2536, gaylene@orecommunications.com

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