The Nederland Farmers Market began in July of 2016 when it was held at the Jeff Guercio Memorial Baseball Field. Sounding simple enough but more complicated than it might seem, their goal then as well as today is to bring fresh Colorado grown produce and food to Colorado people. Now occupying its current space on the gravel parking lot between 1st and 2nd Streets in downtown Nederland since 2020, every other Sunday locals converge on the site to stock up on fruits and vegetables.

For last Sunday, July 23, Party in the Peaks, people had lots to celebrate with peaches, apricots, and cherries from the Western Slope. Sourced from Northern Front Range growers, leafy greens, potatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, and beans were for sale. The first field grown tomatoes had arrived and oddlyshaped striped Roman tomatoes added variety from which to choose. Rishona Hatcher’s mushrooms were works of art, almost too beautiful to eat. Every week it is something different depending on the season. Sweet corn will be here soon.

Also available were pork and lamb products from Buckner Family Farm in Longmont. Milk, ricotta cheese, and Greek yogurt came from Five Freedoms Dairy, Fort Collins. Natural Poultry out of Haxtun supplied the chicken eggs.

Two food trucks anchored the festival with one of them offering tasty entrees such as Florida coconut shrimp and gyros. Susan Loriho’s samosas were authentic and delicious. I recently discovered Tortilla Esmerelda’s chips and green salsa and now make them one of my regular purchases. To satisfy your sweet tooth for dessert, ColoraDough’s baked goods were temptingly arrayed and Bee Hugger Farm offered honey and flavored honey. To wash it all down, local producers Very Nice Brewing Company, Busey Brews, Knotted Root Brewing Company, Howlin Wind Brewing & Blending, Augustina’s Winery, and Gold Dirt Distillery provided the potent potables.

Certainly unusual, but not out of the realm of possibility in a place like Nederland, a nonchalant yak with a child on its back was led through the crowd. People shopped at one of the many vendors for items such as handwoven baskets, pottery, jewelry, original paintings, tinctures, elk antlers, and tie dye t-shirts. Banjo and guitar player Adam Pause threw a group together at the last minute comprised of local musicians. Combining the names of the bands that he and the other artists normally play with, they called themselves the Dead Fast Gilbillies. With bluegrass leanings, their music was tight as if they’d played together for years. They ended their first set with the Grateful Dead’s “Big River.” Next on stage was the Kind Hearted Strangers whose rendition of the Allman Brothers’ “Blue Sky” from the album Eat a Peach was enthusiastically received.

There are five more opportunities to attend the Nederland Farmers Market this year on August 6, August 20, September 3, September 17, and on October 1 for their expanded Harvest Festival.

For more information, go to www.nederlandfarmersmarket.org.