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Community Agriculture Alliance: Eating like a Yampavore

Heather Mantzke/For Steamboat Pilot & Today

Buying local food is easier than you’d think. Routt County has more opportunities to buy local food than some of us may realize. Whether you’re looking for local eggs, meat, seasonal vegetables or other products, we’ve got you covered. 

If you think you’re too busy to seek out local food, think again. Between the Community Ag Alliance, the farmer’s market and local restaurants, everyone can be a Yampavore and eat from the Yampa Valley.

The Community Ag Alliance has a year-round virtual farmers market that allows you to reserve your desired local products online.  Once you’ve placed your order, you simply pick your items up 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Friday at the CAA office.  We are located at 141 Ninth Street, yes it’s an office transformed farmers market on Fridays. 



Truly, it’s that easy. If you forget to place an order, we welcome you to stop in on Friday anyway and see what’s available or extra.  Many of the producers that sell via the CAA market deliver extras, so if you forgot to reserve online we’ve still got you covered. 

Typically in the summer, there is lots of seasonal produce.  And if you think about it, it makes sense.  When lettuce is ready to harvest, it’s ready.  No waiting or keeping it longer in the ground.  It’s harvested fresh for you to enjoy.



If the CAA Friday market doesn’t fit in your schedule, check out local farm stands — Elkstone Farm starts up this week — or the farmer’s market downtown on Saturdays.

And if you’re not into cooking, eat local at one of the supporting area restaurants.  Not sure who has local food on the menu?  Ask. And please be sure to thank them for supporting local if they do and encourage them to call CAA if they don’t.

And a quick shout out to our friends at Cabaret and the Chief Theater.  If you missed it this year, Cabaret was once again hilarious and spot on spoof of Routt County living.  Our favorite skit, of course, was the Yampavore vampires who only want to eat fresh, healthy locals.  What could be better.  There is a link to the video at communityagalliance.org/caamarketTrust us, it’s worth the giggles to watch again and again.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and explore your inner Yampavore. Happy eating.

Heather Mantzke is the Community Ag Alliance program coordinator.


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