Colorado farmers agree that consumers are buying more produce to cook at home because of tight budgets, but this summer’s volatile weather has destroyed some of their crops.
From hailstorms to heat to excessive rainfall, farmers have been at the mercy of Mother Nature, who hasn’t been kind to those whose crops are grown outdoors.
Robert Sakata, owner of Brighton-based Sakata Farms, said this season’s hailstorms were detrimental to his onion, corn and cabbage crops.
“We’ve struggled with some of the hailstorms,” Sakata said. “This is our lives, and when you see Mother Nature do something like that, you just have to ask why.”
He said 75 percent of his more than 3,000 acres of farmland was hit by hail. He estimates a 30 to 50 percent loss in his onion crop this season.
Sakata, along with a dozen local farmers, gathered at a Safeway store near the University of Denver on Friday to encourage consumers to buy locally grown produce.
David Tonso, who owns a farm in south-central Colorado, said his geographic location saved his potato crops this season.
“We’ve been pretty blessed down in our neck of the woods,” said Tonso, owner of Cañon Potato Co., located in the San Luis Valley. “We’ve had a good growing season, no hail, no frost, and our crop is probably about a week ahead of schedule.”
He said the economy has helped his business in some ways.
“Everybody’s been getting back to basics, like food staples, and potatoes are definitely in that category,” Tonso said. “I’ve seen more interest from consumers.”
Farmers whose crops are grown indoors have seen steady sales and demand.
“I’m pleasantly surprised,” said Paul Fields, director of sales and marketing for Rakhra Mushrooms in Alamosa. “So many people are back to eating their food on their table, and moms are going back to cooking.”
Safeway recently launched a companywide “Locally Grown” initiative, where the company buys first from local growers. About 30 percent of all produce sold in Safeway’s Colorado stores is from local farmers.
Colorado agriculture contributes about $16 billion annually to the state’s economy.
Sara Castellanos: 303-954-1381 or scastellanos@denverpost.com
