Where would you be without agriculture? Naked and hungry!
The Whaley family ranch
This week in the Boat we are celebrating Agriculture Appreciation Week hosted by the Community Agriculture Alliance. It's an opportunity to honor the ranchers and farmers of our community that help keep us clothed and fed. Due to the coronavirus pandemic all of the events of this week-long celebration have been cancelled. But -you can still celebrate agriculture in Northwest Colorado by buying local.
Buy local food online
Did you know that we have a year-around farmer's market in Steamboat? If you are searching for local eggs, honey, meat, vegetables or anything else produced in the Yampa Valley, then you need to check out the Community Agriculture Alliance Market.
The online marketplace is open for orders from Tuesday through Saturday with online order pickup on Tuesdays. The offerings change weekly but you can expect to find items such as cilantro microgreens, lamb brats, gouda cheese, shortbread cookies, blueberry-lime jam. All items are locally sourced, so you never know exactly what will be available...that's part of the fun!
The CAA Market has a new location in the old Photo Express House on Oak Street.
Walk-in shopping is available Tuesday-Thursday, 9-5 and Friday 9-2 and their new location at 743 Oak Street in the heart of Steamboat. Check it out, and if you find products that you like, you can include your $25 annual membership with your first order. Buy local!
To support community efforts for social distancing only two customers at a time will be allowed in the marketplace. Also, they offer delivery in Steamboat for a $5 fee for online pre-orders.
Looking for locally sourced wool?
Lorrae Moon, the owner of Yampa Valley Fiberworks, demonstrates the milling process.
Did you know that Northwest Colorado, at one time, was one of the biggest producers of wool in the country? Our climate and alpine forage is perfect for grazing sheep in the summer. So if you want to buy some of our locally sourced high mountain wool, contact Yampa Valley Fiberworks in Craig where our local wool is processed and spun into yarn. Lorrae and Lewis Moon, would love to sell you some yarn or one of the fun items that local women have made with it.
The view we see when driving into Steamboat from Rabbit Ears Pass always takes my breath away. Those agricultural landscapes of the valley floor are the ranches that reflect our history and continue to feed and nurture us. Support agriculture all year by ordering locally sourced foods in our restaurants and buying local products whenever possible. K Massey
photos courtesy of Community Agriculture Alliance
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Jill Paradis
Yampa Valley is one amazing place and the ranches driving up 131 are timeless!