Reason for Fundraising
Recently, one of the largest distributors of Organic produce in Denver was acquired by a national distributor. They no longer specialize in Organic, leaving Denver's Organic market somewhat underserved. Our distribution partner, Fresh Start Produce, believes this poses a significant opportunity to capture a reasonable share of the Local / Organic market in Denver.
Our intention with leasing this property is to produce Certified Organic fruit & vegetables to supply Fresh Start Produce, other distributors, our own retail & farmers market locations, and potentially local farmers markets and restaurants in the nearby towns such as Aspen and Steamboat Springs.
We’ve recently come into contact with a landowner & son in Paonia who has been farming with sustainable, organic practices since 1970. They are looking to lease a parcel of irrigated cropland to a sustainable organic grower.
Upon meeting and speaking with the landowner, viewing the property, and discussing terms, we believe this 10 acre property and the landowners are an excellent fit for this expansion into regenerative organic fruit & vegetable production. These initial funds will be used to pay the deposit needed to secure the property, with a projected move-in date of January 1, 2021.
After this first fundraise with Steward, we plan to raise a second loan to build out some basic infrastructure on the property such as a hoop house and a wash & pack area.
Sustainable Agriculture Practices
My current practices are based on soil regeneration using microbial inoculants and mineral supplements. The inoculants are similar to the result of a properly produced compost tea. These practices drastically increase the amount of nutrients available to the plant in a usable form.
I’ve learned that healthy, well-mineralized, well-hydrated plants are far less prone to issues from pests or disease. Healthy plants come from a balanced living soil food web, so my primary focus is on feeding the soil, rather than the plants.
The combination of healthy plants, good cultural practices, beneficial organisms & insects, strong bio-diversity on the farm, and the feeding & care of the soil results in produce that is high-quality, nutrient-dense, high brix, and absolutely delicious.
