Local-vores rejoice! The Paonia Food Movement (PFM) is here to enliven and enrich the Roaring Fork Valley’s connection to local food. Created to be an essential bridge between farmers and consumers, PFM is a year-round delivery service that features à la carte boxes bursting with vibrant produce, nutrient-dense meats, creative goods and more, sourced from North Fork Valley farmers and producers.
Customers receive weekly boxes by ordering online before 6pm on Tuesday. Then, on Friday, PFM founder Sarah Peterson delivers the goods at predetermined times and locations from Aspen to Glenwood Springs and Marble.
Founded in 2024, PFM’s mission is three-fold: support local farmers, strengthen the food supply and help customers experience the benefits of eating local food. Emphasizing that food is an important part of our lives, Peterson said that when people are more connected to their food it helps them feel healthier and more grounded — ultimately, fostering a more holistic community that also enhances the local food economy.
“This has been a good way to connect with my community and to support farmers which is a huge part of why I’m doing what I’m doing,” said Peterson. “This valley is rich in food, but it can be hard to make a living here. Being able to put resources in the pockets of the farmers is really incredible.”
Home to Paonia, Hotchkiss and Crawford, the North Fork Valley is situated in the Gunnison River Basin, a rich ecosystem full of abundant wildlife, healthy soil and clean water. The area is nurtured by an innovative and dedicated constellation of farmers, who happen to comprise the highest concentration of organic farmers in Colorado; thus, North Fork was dubbed Colorado’s organic capital.
“There’s a big culture of biodynamic and regenerative farming here. And there’s a culture of not just growing food, but of growing really high-quality food,” said Peterson. “This climate is very unique for Colorado. It’s the bread basket. It’s a special, little micro-climate that allows for food cultivation in a really amazing way.”
Born and raised in Glenwood Springs, Peterson has always been passionate about the environment. After college, she monitored global warming for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But she quickly realized that she wanted a different relationship with people, land and food, and she needed to get her hands dirty. For four years, Peterson worked on different farms before landing in Paonia. Now, equipped with objective experience, Peterson frequently visits the PFM vendors and lends a hand when needed. She has deepened her connection to the farmers and is excited to share their goods with customers.
Their weekly offerings are ever-expanding. Customers can choose delicious North Fork staples like baked goods from Mountain Oven, eggs from Austin Family Farm, tender lettuce and ground lamb from The Living Farm and plenty of root vegetables from Grey Owl Farms, Skooterz Hunter and Abundant Life Organic Farm. Speciality items such as Elk Mountain Farmacy’s kimchi, kraut and seasoning blends and herbal teas from Nordic Fox Farm help boost weekly selections.
“I want this to be affordable for people and [to where] they can pick exactly what they want,” said Peterson. “There’s no commitment … I’m hoping it’s user-friendly and easy.”
On the production side, vendors are already seeing substantial benefits from participating with PFM.
“Most farmers markets run from May to October, and the rest of the year we’re really dependent on website sales,” said Sara Neil, herbalist and co-founder of Nordic Fox Farm. “Having PFM year-round is really key for more stable income for the producers and growers.”
Living off the grid on 42-acres in Crawford, Neil and her husband Mike practice regenerative farming to grow culinary and medicinal herbs. The herbs are then carefully mixed into tea blends, herbal extracts and soothing muscle salves. Almost immediately, Neil said, they have found great success with their new customers and are grateful for PFM.
“We’re so excited to be part of PFM,” she shared. “Sarah has so much enthusiasm and she’s really passionate about connecting local consumers to their local producers.”
As the farmers and producers gain momentum, Peterson and Neil said it’s also important to build a more resilient food supply. Noting its fragility, and ultimate breakdown during the pandemic, Peterson said our food system is precarious and we need to invest in farmers to know where and when our food is coming.
“I think seeing the fragility of our supply chains and infrastructure really drove home how quickly that can be cut off,” Neil added. “People started turning to local producers and establishing relationships. It’s been beautiful to see them turning back to [their] own communities to really take care of each other.”
While Peterson is driven to have a positive impact, her greatest joy comes from building the cyclical relationship between farmer, consumer and the land.
“I love people and I love connecting with people,” said Peterson. “This gives me an outlet to be social and to do a service for both valleys that I love. I love the North Fork Valley, and I have a lot of love for my home valley. It’s the community and its relationship.”
For more on the Paonia Food Movement, visit www.paoniafoodmovement.com