San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition

A nonprofit organization

$6,693 raised by 73 donors

67% complete

$10,000 Goal

In fostering a local foods system, the LFC is vitalizing farmers, the economy, and the environment by reconnecting our Valley's residents with soil, seed, farmer, and harvest. We are increasing access to the bounty of the San Luis Valley harvest and weaving together the fabric of community.

Our Programs

Cooking Matters — A cooking and nutrition education program for low-income families, caregivers, and adults that aims to increase health, limit food waste, and educate folks on how to use local ingredients on a budget. The Cooking Matters team works closely with local organizations to educate and support SNAP users and our local farm workers and their families.

Valley Roots Food Hub — Discover the Valley Roots Food Hub - the bustling heart of the SLV food system. This lively Mosca-based food hub connects local producers to consumers by distributing SLV & Colorado foods to restaurants, grocers, other hubs, and your home via CSA (community-supported agriculture) boxes. The Hub also hosts farm tours and events throughout the Valley.

Rio Grande Farm Park — Off the banks of the Rio Grande is a dynamic space to Learn, Play, and Grow. The Farm Park hosts an outdoor play area, family & commercial farm plots, a sustainable greenhouse, and an Education Center for workshops and events. Programs include Rising Stewards (high school summer program), Mercadillo en el Rio (a weekly farmers market), and a commercial farmer incubator.

Community Food & Agriculture — The SLV CFAA is creating a community-driven strategic plan to build the capacity of food & ag systems in the San Luis Valley. It addresses opportunities and challenges in current systems, taking to heart ideas and voices of community members, producers, and food businesses.

Mercadillo en el Rio — The weekly farmers market at Rio Grande Farm Park is a mid-week event for the whole community to enjoy. Come shop the week’s harvest from our local farmers, enjoy food trucks, and shop creative goods from our vendors. Wednesday evenings, 4pm to 7pm throughout the summer

Additional Resources: 
The Local Roots Guide is a comprehensive list of local farmers, ranchers, and producers in the SLV -and- the Bilingual Resource Guide helps new and experienced ranchers & and farmers with best practices, educational resources, and agricultural advocacy groups.


Mission

The mission of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition is to foster an equitable local food system that restores the health of the people, community, economy and ecosystem.

Background Statement

Organized in 2009, the Local Foods Coalition (LFC) began as a grassroots gathering of farmers and ranchers, school food-service directors, the local food bank, community garden staff, nutrition educators, businesses, nonprofits and residents from the San Luis Valley. The Coalition came out of the LiveWell Colorado healthy-eating active-living work conducted from 2007 to 2013 with Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc. serving as the fiscal agent. The newly formed LFC sought to develop local food networks, educate the community, and promote programs and policies that create a sustainable local food system for the region. In 2011, the LFC appointed its first board of directors and in 2012 became its own 501(c)3 non-profit organization, eventually transitioning its mission to 'foster an equitable local food system that restores the health of the people, community, economy, and ecosystem.' The LFC is currently staffed with twelve full-time employees, twelve part-time employees, two in-service volunteers, and many partners, volunteers, and contractors.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition

other names

SLVLFC

Year Established

2012

Tax id (EIN)

45-3837878

Category

Food, Agriculture & Nutrition

Organization Size

Large Organization

Address

412 State Avenue
Alamosa, CO 81101

Mailing

P.O. Box 181
Alamosa, CO 81101

Service areas

Alamosa County, CO, US

Phone

719-937-2319

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