Office for Resource Efficiency

Location: Gunnison County, Colorado

Mission: Empower the Gunnison Valley to lower utility costs, develop renewable energy sources, decrease carbon emissions, increase access to local foods and build a more sustainable, self-sufficient economy.

Program: Local Farms First - The Gunnison Valley, home to Crested Butte Mountain and abundant backcountry access, is one of the coldest areas in the continental US, making agricultural production a challenge - albeit, a surmountable one. ORE's Local Farms First Program (LFF) fills a critical market and transportation gap in our remote area by building a dependable local food system - a key ingredient to a sustainable community. The one-of-a-kind program is a year-round online farmers market and delivery service that facilitates direct sales between 50+ producers and 400+ customers. Local Farms First preserves agricultural lands while connecting families, businesses and schools with Certified Organic, Naturally Grown or chemical-free products from Gunnison's historic ranching industry and from neighboring Delta County, home to Colorado's largest concentration of organic farms.