AG-COOPS    ORCHARDS    ROADSIDE PRODUCE STANDS    WINERIES

AG-COOPS

This rich fertile valley produces some of the finest crops in Colorado. These conditions also provide nutritious feed for livestock.

The high mountain meadows are filled with nutrient rich grasses and fresh air necessary to produce high quality meat products that you can purchase direct from the producers.

Ranching has been part of the culture here since the early 1900s. The producers here are some of the best in the industry, winning awards for organic production, for leanness, marbling, milk production, egg production and other nutritional characteristics depending on the species and breed. National awards have been won by cattlemen for their conservation efforts in the North Fork Valley.

Several marketing co-ops have been formed by ranchers to sell branded beef.   Much of the beef is produced organically. Bison, ostrich and elk are also raised in Delta County with the meat being sold in various stores. Homestead Beef located in Paonia carries products from many of these ranches, elk, lamb, beef and salsas made from local farms and fruit orchards. Hardins on the way to Hotchkiss also carries local elk and bison meat plus other products from the county. 

The Highwire Ranch outside of Hotchkiss raise elk and buffalo.