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Colorado farmers, ranchers, and other small-scale growers across the Front Range are scrambling to find new distribution outlets for their products in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. Some have shifted gears to focus on community supported agriculture (CSA) programs while others have launched online-ordering systems or are hosting IRL market pop ups. Read on for three new ways you can get your farmers’ market fix in the coming weeks:
Longmont’s Pastures of Plenty has partnered with Moxie Bread Co. and Shamane’s Bakery and Cafe this month to launch a series of pop-up farm stands in the parking lots of the two bakeries. Look for seasonal vegetables, fresh flowers, and hanging baskets this week, with more options to come: May 7–8 at Shamane’s Bakery and Cafe (2825 Wilderness Pl., Boulder) between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and Moxie Bread Co. (4593 N. Broadway, Boulder) between 2 and 6 p.m.; May 9–10 at Moxie Bread Co. in Louisville (641 Main St., Louisville) between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Starting May 9, the growers will also host a farm stand every Saturday on their property (4039 Ogallala Rd., Longmont) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until traditional farmers’ markets reopen.
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The local and seasonal food enthusiasts at Beast & Bottle are excited to team up with Ollin Farms, Arkansas Valley Organic Growers, Kiowa Valley Organics, and other displaced Union Station Farmers Market purveyors to host a weekly pop-up farm stand at its temporarily closed restaurant, with the first market taking place on Mother’s Day weekend. Order your Farmstand Bag ($30) of spring veggies (think: green garlic, asparagus, turnips, radishes, and greens) online by 5 p.m. on May 7 for pick up at the restaurant (719 E. 17th Ave.) between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on May 9. In addition to produce, you can add on goodies such as eggs, honey, pickles, and perhaps the most coveted item of all—hand sanitizer—from Colorado producers.
Curbside Farmers Market, an online platform established by Denver Bazaar and Culinary Creative (Tap & Burger, Bar Dough, and others), begins accepting orders on May 7 for pick up starting on May 14. Customers can shop for seasonal produce, mushrooms, microgreens, locally baked bread and pastries, along with pantry staples and specialty items like fresh pasta from Bar Dough and signature sauces from Tap & Burger. The site also offers meal kits and ready-to-heat dishes from Ash’Kara, Señor Bear, and other Culinary Creative restaurants and large-batch cocktail kits, too.