SAN LUIS VALLEY — Each week, Nourish Colorado elevates the importance of agricultural programs and why investing in these matters. 

Max Gibson is the Executive Director of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition, a nonprofit that hosts the Rio Grande Farm Park. Gibson shared how vital USDA funding is for farmers: 

“The USDA OPPE 2501 program is a lifeline for the farmers at the Rio Grande Farm Park (RGFP), equipping them with critical business education and essential skills like pest management, crop planning, marketing, and soil health.  The program provides outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers. 

“This programming is necessary for their success, ensuring their farms can thrive and continue providing fresh, local food to our community. The funding pause is devastating, effectively silencing crucial communication with farmers for whom English is a second language and stripping away the education they need to sustain and grow their businesses. Without this support, these small farms face significant barriers to success, threatening not only their livelihoods but also the community’s access to fresh, locally grown food, including the regional food pantries who receive significant amounts of fresh food from the RGFP farmers. 

“Over the past three years, RGFP farmers have contributed more than 20,000 pounds of fresh produce to regional food pantries, directly supporting food-insecure families. At our on-site summertime farmers market, thousands of SNAP dollars and Double Up Food Bucks are redeemed annually, ensuring that fresh, organic produce remains accessible to all members of our community. This program is not just about food, but about health and economic opportunity as well. Without this funding, our ability to support farmers in accessing these critical markets will be severely diminished, reducing fresh food availability for those who need it most. The damage of losing funding is a direct blow to economic opportunity, food security, and the resilience of our local food system as a whole.” 

Nourish Colorado is a group of changemakers who strengthen connections with and between farms, ranches, and communities so that all Coloradans have equitable access to fresh, nutritious foods. For more information, visit www.nourishcolorado.com.