Local Produce Local Eating

Fruit ranching was one of the first commercial endeavors to take hold in this area in the decades following settlement. 
It was a mere ten years after the first white settlers planted orchards in the North Fork River Valley that Paonia fruit won several top awards at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
With this new found fame it wasn’t long until fruit, along with coal, tempted the railroad to lay down a spur line passing through Hotchkiss and Paonia.

Over the past several decades, and largely because of the demand for land for residential uses, a good many orchards have lost the economic battle for survival; and while there are still many producing orchards, there are fewer than there once were.


   North Fork Valley produce         North Fork Valley Barn

This trend has been slowed over the past decade by the ingenuity of local orchardists and farmers.  Local growers have found new crops and techniques which increase economic value.  Two examples are the trend towards vineyards and wine production, and the trend towards organic farming.

The climate is ideal for this type of agriculture, and local wineries have made serious inroads in the past few years with their high quality wines.  Organic, natural and biodynamic farming have found receptive markets and the demand has encouraged a clear movement in that direction.

While you are in the Valley, why not enjoy our fantastic fruits, vegetables, meats, wines and food products?  The sweet taste of local produce will be a treat for your palate that you won’t soon forget.
Or… take it home with you…
Please scroll through this partial list of farms and locations where you can enjoy and purchase local fruits, produce, wines, meats and various food products----whether organic, natural, biodynamic or conventionally grown.  Contact the growers for more information.

North Fork Valley Produce

Be sure to call ahead to confirm availability.

Abundant Life Organic Farms
Jeff & Kaylee Armstrong & Family
31733 Highway 92, Hotchkiss, CO 81419    970.985.8842
Melons, berries, heirloom tomatoes, sweet onions, veggies, chickens and eggs.
 
Austin Family Farm
Glenn & Toni Austin
14741 Canyon Road, Paonia, CO 81428   970.260.4298
11 kinds of peaches, 12 kinds of apples, plums, apricots, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, honey & vegetables.
 
Avalanche Cheese Company
Wendy Mitchell
216 Cody Lane,  Basalt CO 81621    970-927-6850
Goat Dairy and Farm located outside Paonia.  Products available in Paonia and Hotchkiss.
 
Bella Farm
Alison & Adam Klaus
PO Box 1156,  Paonia, CO 81428    970.527.5703
Raw milk shares available from our Brown Swiss dairy cows.  Butter, yogurt, vegetables, eggs and milk fed pork.
 
Bissell Family Farm
Roger & Laurene Bissell
41619 Lamborn Mesa Road,   Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.7410
Peaches.
 
Closer to Heaven Farm
Paul & Sue Chenault
12130 Payne Siding Road,  Hotchkiss, CO 81419    970.835.4050
Organically supplemented, non-GMO, custom mixed poultry, swine & goat feed.  Chickens, eggs, dairy goats, & chicks for sale.
 
Cobblestone Farm
Gary Matlock & Jan Thompson
35294 Hanson Mesa Road,  Hotchkiss, CO 81419    970.872.3026
Varieties of garlic, vegetables & fruit.

Dancing Dog Farm
Ken & Lori Vaught
1235 Barrow Mesa Road,  Hotchkiss, CO 81419    970.872.1109
Fresh produce, herbs and berries.

Delicious Orchards
Jeff & Tracey Schwartz
39126 Hwy 133 west of Paonia / PO Box 2012, Hotchkiss, CO 81419  970.527.1110
Produce, meat, Big B's Fresh Apple Cider, wine. You Pick Fruit/Veggies.
 
Desert Weyr, LLC
Ken & Oogie McGuire
16870 Garvin Mesa Road,  Paonia, CO 81428    970.527.3573
Grassfed Black Welsh Mountain sheep meat and wool products.
 
Eagle Butte Ranch
Rick & Landon Deane
10653 Eagle Butte Road, Paonia, CO 81428
Mailing: 3129 Maroon Creek Rd, Aspen, CO 81611   970.925.4614
Grassfed beef raised without added hormones or antibiotics. Certified weed-free hay grown without chemicals.
  
Ela Family Farms
Steve, Becky, Shirley & William Ela
30753 L Road,  Hotchkiss, CO 81419   970.872.3488
Cherries, peaches, pears, plums, apples, berries, jams, fruit butters, applesauces, dried fruit & ciders.
 
Excelsior Orchard
Paul & Elane Maudlin
PO Box 1553 / 14140 Dry Gulch Road,  Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.6860
Sweet & sour cherries, apricots, peaches, pears, apples, nectarines, plums, fruit ciders and dried fruit.
 
Fire Mountain Farm & Apiary
Catherine Gockley
PO Box 444,  Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.4499
Vegetables, fruits, flowers, eggs, and honey.
 
First Fruits Organic Farms
Kris & Kevin Kropp
PO Box 864 / 40565 O Road, Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.6122
Fruits & vegetables.
 
Fresh & Wyld  CSA
Dava Parr
1978 Harding Road, Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.4374
Paonia/Roaring Fork CSA.
 
Hardin’s Natural Foods
Scott & Lisa Fairbank
31424 Highway 92,  Rogers Mesa, Hotchkiss, CO 81419   970.872.3019
Natural food store featuring locally grown, organic produce and grocery items. Wine tasting room.

High Wire Ranch
Dave and Sue Whittlesey
27497 Buffalo Road, Hotchkiss, CO 81419   970.835.7600
Grassfed Buffalo & Elk. Meat available at the ranch, health food stores.

Homestead Natural Meats
North Fork Valley meat producers cooperative.
741 West 5th, Delta CO  970-874-1145
Locally grown beef, pork, chicken, and specialty products.

Holy Terror Farm
Alison Gannett & Jason Trimm
42485 Highway 133,  Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.3373
Veggies, fruits, nuts, berries, herbs, pork, eggs, grains, beans, preserved foods, and honey.
 
Mattice's Fruits & Vegetables, Beef & Pork
Doug Mattice
9947 3200 Road, Rogers Mesa,  Hotchkiss, CO 81419   970.872.7359
Fruit & Veggies, Beef & Pork
 
Mesa Winds Farm
Max Eisele & Wink Davis
PO Box 327 / 31262 L Road, Hotchkiss, CO 81419  970.250.4788 / 719.227.1396
Fruits, vegetables, grapes & specialty products.

Needle Rock Stables
Jim and Faye Deutsch
41658 Needlerock Rd, Crawford CO 81415   970-921-5857
Poultry and beef.
 
North Fork Organics
Thomas Kay (TK) & Richard Blosser
PO Box 60 / 8015 Scenic Mesa Rd., Hotchkiss, CO 81419   970.872.4500
Pinto beans.  Alfalfa: 3 x 3 bales (@ 800lbs). Organic
Humus Compost and Compost Tea.
 
Old River Road Trading Post / Local-Organic-Ventures
Greg & Addie Cranson
15495 Black Bridge Road, Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.4740
Fruit, vegetables, & wheat.  Bread, pear leather, & sauerkraut.
 
Orchard Valley Farms & Market
Lee & Kathy Bradley
15836 Black Bridge Road, Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.6838
U-pick vegetable garden and market.
 
Peace & Plenty Farm
Pat & Paul Frazier
29581 Redlands Mesa Road, Hotchkiss, CO 81419   970.261.1724
Biodynamic herbs, vegetables, fruit, flowers & drought tolerant perennials.
 
Princess Beef
Cynthia & Ira Houseweart
32282 J Road,  Hotchkiss, CO 81419   970.872.2144
100% grassfed beef. Quarters, halves and whole beef for fall delivery.  Lean ground beef available year-round.
 
Pristine Valley Farm
Sky & Julie Jelsma
14609 Peony Lane, Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.3497
White peaches, cherries & peachcots.
 
Purple Haze Garlic
Elsie & Sven Edstrom
14414 2900 Road,  Hotchkiss, CO 81419   970.872.1098
Heirloom Rocambole garlic.
 
Rain Crow Farm
Kerry Noonan & Jason Beason
39405 Lund Road, Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.4625
Vegetables, herbs, flowers, free-range chicken eggs.
 
Rendezvous Farm
James Meloan and Lara Judson
39135 HWY 92, Crawford, CO 81415   970.987.1157
Produce, pork, lamb, chicken and eggs.
 
Ripe 2 U
Bob Huspen
40916 Lamborn Mesa Rd., Paonia, CO 81428   970.261.1073
Arizona citrus, local honey, PA maple syrup and other specialty products.
 
Rogers Mesa Fruit Co. Inc.
Tom Alvey, President
PO Box 249 / Highway 92 & 3100 Road, Hotchkiss, CO 81419   970.872.2155
Cherries, apricots, peaches, pears, plums, apples.
 
Round Earth Farm & Turkey Hill CSA
Adam Silverstein & Valerie Stone
PO Box 969 / 34830 Powell Mesa Road, Hotchkiss, CO 81419   970.872.4413
Vegetables, eggs, herbs and flowers.
 
Small Potatoes Farm
Monica Wiitanen / Scott Horner
40575 O Road,  Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.4051 (Monica) / 970.589.3216 (Scott)
Year round mixed vegetables, seasonal berries and herbs, garlic braids and fresh dug winter roots.

Sparky's Farm Market
Donald & Mary Jo Vander Laan
31164 Highway 92, Rogers Mesa, Hotchkiss CO  81419   970-872-7737
Fruits, vegetables, eggs, baked goods.
 
Stinky Blooms Flower Farm/Field Florals
Ashley Krest & Tod Birk
41391 Omega Road, Paonia  CO  81428   970-527-4541
We create unique “green” arrangements for events & weddings.  Weekly deliveries to North Fork & Roaring Fork Valleys.
 
Storehouse
Mike & Kristie Martin and Kids
38258 Linman Rd., Crawford, CO 81415   970.921.5478
Raw goat milk shares.  Kefir, yogurts, cheeses. Farm fresh eggs, naturally raised meat poultry. Variety of heirloom vegetables in season. CSA.
 
Terra Fata Farm
Emily Hartnett
41474 Reds Rd., Paonia, CO 81428   267.981.6339
Dairy goats, grass-fed lambs, soy-free laying hens.  Golden Delicious and Rome apples, red and yellow Bartlett pears.
 
The Living Farm
Tom, Lynn & Ben Gillespie
12506 Crawford Road, Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.3305
Salad greens, tomatoes, herbs, vegetables, eggs, pasture raised beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, chicken & hog feed, hay, dairy sheep. CSA.
 
Thistle Whistle Farm
Mark Waltermire & Katie Dean
10872 3500 Road, Hotchkiss, CO 81419   970.872.4959
Specialty fruits and vegetables. CSA.
 
Webb Farm
Basil & Laurel Webb
14510 2900 Rd., Hotchkiss, CO 81419   970.872.4835
Pasture-fed, non-GMO chickens for direct sale.
 
White Buffalo Farm, Inc.
Wayne Talmage
16877 Grange Road, Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.3041
CSA. Apples, apricots, sweet & sour cherries, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums, tomatoes, squash, greens, herbs, eggs, peppers and more.
 
Wildwood Ranch
Karla Tschoepe
PO Box 25 / 37200 Stucker Mesa Rd., Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.3288
Hay, chickens, turkeys, & beef all processed at the ranch.
 
Zephyros Farm and Garden
Daphne Yannakakis & Don Lareau
11466 3725 Road, Paonia, CO 81428   970.527.3636
Variety of vegetables and cut flowers. CSA
 
Zimmerman Pork Farm
Rick Zimmerman
10391 3250 Road, Hotchkiss, CO 81419   970.872.3163
Heritage pork. Berkshires & Chester Whites. Whole or half hogs.  Vegetable varieties selected for canning.

North Fork Valley Wines & Spirits

For wine and spirits producers:  at the the vintner's location (see map in this section of the website) or at...
Bridge Street Liquors 301 East Bridge St. – Hotchkiss 872-7788
On the Rocks Liquors 40823 Hwy 133 – Paonia 527-3411
Tri-R Liquors Next to City Mkt – Hotchkiss 872-3124

Great locally produced food products are also available at Hardin’s Natural Foods, Old River Road Trading Post, Homestead Natural Meats and Delicious Orchards at their locations listed above.

For more information on local organic farms and orchards  http://www.vogaco.org
has details.
These links have local producers' information as well.