Northern Colorado Foodshed Project

The Foodshed Project aims to enliven Northern Colorado’s food system, growing it to be more productive, accessible and secure. One of the ways we do this is through our Farm Business Accelerator Program. The Accelerator program supports beginning farmers on its 15 acre proprty by building a bridge between initial on-farm training and business viability. We provide beginning farmers with everything they need to establish a successful farm business: land and water access, infrastructure, business education through a partnership with Colorado State University (CSU) Extension’s Building Farmers Program, technical support, mentorship, and marketing assistance.

The Accelerator is a 3-year program designed to support beginning farmers with farming experience and an interest in establishing their own farm business. Accelerator farmers will have access to plots starting at 1⁄4 acre, as well as shared access to infrastructure such as irrigation equipment, farming tools and equipment, electricity, and storage space. Though the program is designed for vegetable and crop producers, we are open to all types of producers – if you are interested and are not a vegetable/crop producer, please email us! We would be happy to work with you.

The program, in addition to other established farm businesses, is located on Flores del Sol, a City of Fort Collins-owned property leased by Poudre Valley Community Farms. By working in a collaborative environment with established and beginning farmers, surrounded by activities such as public education programs and community gardens, and with access to a strong network of potential investors, participants in the Accelerator will be members of a unique and growing community-based project aimed at supporting a vibrant local food economy.