Mountain Village: “Farm to Community” Program Expands, Apply Now!

12 Jan Mountain Village: “Farm to Community” Program Expands, Apply Now!

The Town of Mountain Village is pleased to announce that the “Farm to Community” program continues in 2020, and will serve more families than ever before. Applications are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be found online at townofmountainvillage.com/farm-to-community.

“The Mountain Village Town Council generously voted to expand our Farm to Community Program to serve 10 more families, 70 total this year,” said Mountain Village Business Development and Sustainability Senior Manager Zoe Dohnal who manages the program. “We are thrilled to be able to offer this one-of-a-kind program to more residents.”

The “Farm to Community” Program offers qualified Mountain Village residents 12 weeks of locally farmed produce and food items for just a $35 application fee.

To qualify, applicants must live in deed-restricted housing in the Town of Mountain Village with a parent and at least one dependent or meet annual household income qualifications as outlined on the town’s website. To learn more and apply, please visit: townofmountainvillage.com/farm-to-community.

The program began in 2018 and offered 48 families (60 residents total) more than 4,500 pounds of fresh local food to residents. In 2019, 61 families were served (126 people total) with more than 7,000 pounds of food delivered from Mountain Roots, FRESH Food Hub, and Indian Ridge.

Mountain Village has partnered once again with Norwood’s FRESH Food Hub, as well as Mountain Roots Produce (based in Mancos) to supply the shares. Indian Ridge is one of the Fresh Food Hub’s suppliers and will continue to provide eggs to the shares this year.

Food shares will available for pick up at this summer’s Market on the Plaza (each Wednesday in Heritage Plaza June 17-Sept.2).

“Beyond offering low-cost, local, healthy food options for our community, the Farm to Community program has had a tremendous impact on the Mountain Village farmer’s market,” said Mountain Village Mayor Laila Benitez. “The quality and quantity of offerings at the Market on the Plaza have been amazing since the launch of this program, and we anticipate an even more robust market this summer.”

Savanna Wagner, who works at Mountain Munchkins was one of the program’s recipients in 2019.

“The cost of living in Mountain Village/Telluride is considered high, and it can be difficult to afford fresh groceries,” she said. “My summer was filled with delicious, vibrant salads and vegetables. It made a big difference in my overall health and well-being. This program brought about health, hope and a deeper connection to the food we consume.”