Dear Editor,

Greetings Nederland. My name is Kipp Nash and I’m the Produce Manager for the Nederland Farmers Market for 2021. I plan and order produce for your weekly farmers market boxes and for our NFM market booth. Folks have been curious about how the box contents and booth products are chosen so I thought I’d shed some light on the process.

Since our inception in 2016, we’ve cooperated with over 20 local farms to find the best tasting, freshest, and most sustainably grown produce from front range farms and beyond (western slope fruit and Pueblo chiles are our furthest sources). The priorities that I use to determine our weekly produce selections are 1) seasonality, availability, and freshness - the majority of our produce will be in your hands less than two days after harvest; 2) sustainability - we source predominantly from farms with organic and known sustainable practices; 3) proximity - over 75% of our farms are within a 50 mile radius of Nederland; and 4) supporting the development of smaller farms and new growers by creating a dependable wholesale outlet for their operations.

In addition to the NFM produce boxes and booths, I’m happy to announce that we have two new farms at our market in 2021. Switch Gears Farm and Benevolence Orchard will be selling farm fresh produce at our physical markets starting in May and running the course of the market season. Be sure to visit their booths and support their effort in the tricky world of Front Range food production.

The Nederland Farmers Market, through relationships with local farm partners, increases our local food security by strengthening local food networks and supporting the continuation of crucial agricultural skills, knowledge, and farmland for the good of our community. Thank you all for supporting local agriculture. I’ll see you at the market!

Kipp Nash
Nederland