Local Farms First
Bringing the Farmers to You!
Market Update
Local Farms First (LFF) announces that it is indefinitely delaying the start of its 2015 operations while it works to improve its business model. At this time, the organization that oversees the LFF program, the newly merged ORE/Coldharbour organization, is undergoing a period of strategic visioning in order to best serve the needs of the region. While we see tremendous potential in LFF, the program has been losing money in recent years. ORE/Coldharbour is working to recruit additional wholesale customers, write grants, and otherwise build capacity to allow the program to continue. We are sorry for the impact this has on our extremely loyal producer and customer base. We will continue to provide updates throughout this growing season. Please contact info@resourceefficiency.org for more information.
What if you could order fresh, local foods, online, every week with convenient delivery?
You can with Local Farms First, a one-of-a-kind online farmers market on Colorado’s Western Slope.
Customers are able to order local, chemical-free food online, year round with weekly delivery from 50+ producers in Gunnison and Delta Counties. This market is not just for produce – you will find locally grown and produced fruits, veggies, meats, dairy, baked goods, processed foods and even crafts.
Local Farms First is for home or bulk retail, school, or restaurant sales. You get to pick and choose the grocery items for your cart, with no set box, straight from the farmers you love. The producers control their inventory and pricing.
Our History
Local Farms First was founded in 2009 through the combined efforts of local farmers with coordination by Alison Gannett and Jason Trimm of Holy Terror Farm.
Now, Local Farms First is run by the Office for Resource Efficiency., a non-profit organization based in Gunnison County.
Membership Fees
To provide farmer training, farm tours, educational programs, and overhead and administration, we ask that you pay an annual membership of $25 per account for one calendar year. However, you get 2 free orders before the membership fee is applied to your order to make sure Local Farms First is for you.
Ordering Options
Unlike other co-ops or CSAs where everyone gets the same box of stuff (and you don’t know what you’re getting until you get it), Local Farms First is all about choice. You get to order what you want, in the quantities you want, from the farms that you want, when you want.
The market is open for online ordering from Thursday at 5 PM through Monday at 7 AM. The orders are then fresh-harvested and delivered to convenient Paonia, Gunnison and Crested Butte drop off points on Wednesdays, all year long.
There will be a 20% discount for local Paonia orders.
Are we Organic?
We proudly support the guiding principles of the Valley Organic Growers Association.: All of our farmers are working every day towards maintaining and improving the health of soil, air and water, and ensure the production of nutritious food free from synthetic inputs with the most sustainable methods possible.
Gift Certificates are available!
A gift certificate to Local Farms First is the perfect present for anyone with an appetite for delicious food! You can order one in any amount.