Eating Seasonally in Colorado
- Jane Litsey
- Apr 18
- 3 min read
Updated: May 4
With spring unfolding and the Boulder Farmers Market opening for the season, the opportunity to source food from the growers of Colorado is beginning once again.
The benefits of sourcing local food are many —- from supporting the economy of our local community — to the increased nutritional content — to the sensory enjoyment that fresh produce simply tastes better.
There is something deeply connected about consuming food from the land in which we live. Food at its core is information that tells our body about the environment in which we live. If we understand that the raw materials that build our bodies come from the food we eat, it makes intuitive sense to build our bodies from the land in which we live.
There is an appreciation for food that comes with choosing to eat with the seasons. After a long winter of root veggies and heavier soups and stews, the spring brings a welcome lightness with the first spring greens, peas, asparagus and the tart crispness of rhubarb.
As the season moves forward toward summer, the harvest increases as summer squash springs forth in abundance combining well in a gentle stir-fry with early green onions, new potatoes and fresh dill.
In late summer the harvest is at its peak bounty with corn, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, carrots, beets, the spectrum of brassicas, greens and a plethora of local culinary herbs. The cool refreshing fruits emerge to temper the summer heat with fresh cantaloupe, cherries and peaches coming from the hills of the western slope.
As fall begins to signal the end of the growing season, the apples are in full swing along with winter squash, pumpkins and the last of the summer harvest —— ready to freeze or can the excess for the coming winter months.
While the Boulder, Longmont and Louisville Farmers Markets are hubs for community agriculture —the options to source locally are many.
Below is a list of farmers markets, local farm stands, and Colorado purveyors to visit this spring, summer and fall.
Enjoy the bounty and appreciation that comes from eating from our land — in tune with the earth and the rhythm of the seasons.
OPEN NOW
Boulder Farmers Market
— 13th St & Canyon Blvd
Longmont Farmers Market
— Boulder County Fairgrounds
Online —The Boulder Farmers Market offers convenient online ordering with Wednesday pickup available in Boulder, and Thursday pickup available in Longmont and Louisville.
Cure Farm Stand in eastern Boulder offers veggies, local meats, honey, dairy and in the later months fruit from the western slope. Their farm stand is currently open 12-5pm on weekends with more days available as the season progresses.
—7416 Valmont Road; Boulder, Colorado, 80301
Bloom and Grow is growing beautiful flowers and has fresh chicken eggs to offer in eastern Boulder. Drop by their farm stand Friday - Sunday near 76th and Baseline Road.
—7977 Baseline Rd
The Treehouse Farm Collective located just north of Boulder offers local flowers from Artemis Farm, local beef and pork, Boulder Valley Honey and fresh produce. They are open 7 days a week. https://treehousefarmcollective.com/
— 8104 N 63rd
Located just north of Niwot, Grama Grass Beef offers stellar local grass-fed beef to order online and pick up at their farm or you can find them weekly at the Boulder Farmers Market.
— 8266 N 81st St
OPEN MAY 11
Louisville Farmers Market
—824 Front Street
OPEN MAY 29
Growing Gardens has a plentiful farm stand on Wednesday from 3:30-6:30pm offering local meats, produce, honey, mushrooms and soaps and salves.
—1630 Hawthorn Ave
OPEN IN JUNE
Black Cat Farm is owned by the same family who runs the local farm to table restaurant Bramble and Hare. They offer pastured pork, frozen pantry items and a spectrum of local veggies. Located off Jay Road the the Diagonal they are yet to open for the summer season.
— 4975 Jay Rd
OPEN IN JULY
Red Wagon Farm located in eastern Boulder offers a huge supply of local veggies and pumpkins in the later month. It opens during the height of the growing season in July.
— 1640 W Baseline Rd
Near 75th and Valmont, Munson Farms has been around since 1976 growing sweet corn, pick your own flowers and pumpkins in the fall. They open for business as the corn crop peaks in July. https://www.munsonfarms.com/
— 75th and valmont
