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Grand Junction is known as the breadbasket for Colorado, home to many local farms, orchards, and vineyards—all of which grow nourishing and flavorful produce. If you’re on the hunt for regional ingredients, discover the Colorado farms in Grand Junction that keep the community healthy, happy, and well-fed.
Supporting Local Farms
Visiting local farms and shopping at local farmer’s markets gives you the chance to support small-scale and family-run operations. It’s also a great opportunity to speak to the growers directly and learn about their farming practices, sustainability efforts, and in-season produce. Prioritizing local consumption, especially when it comes to food, helps to stimulate local economies while developing a greater appreciation for hard-working farmers who provide naturally grown goods.
Grand Junction Farms
Belli Fiori Lavender Farm
The family-owned Belli Fiori Lavender Farm grows more than 1,100 lavender plants representing 11 different varieties. Although peak lavender bloom occurs during the summer, the farm is still worth a stop in the fall. Explore the property and purchase a variety of lavender-infused products at the onsite Belli Fiori Market. Soaps and lotions, along with small-batch culinary treats, make the shop a popular stop for locals and guests. All products are handmade by owners, Lisa and Dave Proietti.
To make this farm stop even more unique, visit Highland’s Distillery also located on the property—founded and operated by Lisa and Dave’s son, Dylan. Visit the hip yurt (air-conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter) for their most popular cocktails and then check out the test bar in the market for what’s new on the horizon. Yard games, fire pits, comfortable seating, and a variety of food options that include pizza, sandwiches, salad, charcuterie, and more—give this special place a vibe all its own. It’s truly a family affair, with the Proietti family’s passion and wholesome kindness woven throughout the farm, market and distillery.
Clark Family Orchards
Over the span of seven generations, Clark Family Orchards has been growing produce in Palisade since 1897. As one of the oldest family orchards in the area, Clark Family Orchards first established roots when James A. & Phoebe Clark planted some of the area's first fruit trees on 20 acres of farmland. The family continues the tradition of using horse-drawn plows and discs to prepare the ground for planting, preserving a practice that dates back to the orchard’s earliest days. Today, the farm encompasses more than 140 owned and leased acres, producing apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, plums, and vegetables.
Peachfork Orchards & Vineyard
Peachfork Orchards & Vineyard combines an orchard and winery for a true farm-to-glass experience. Pick your own juicy Palisade peaches in August and early September, then return later in the season for apples, pears and pluots through October. After filling your basket, relax on the outdoor patio with a wine tasting that includes Peachfork’s semi-sweet peach wine, made with peaches grown right on the farm. You can also learn more about the family farm and its history on a free tour, making Peachfork Orchards and Vineyard an easy place to experience two of the area’s signature agricultural traditions: fresh local fruit and Colorado wine, all in one stop in Palisade.
Pear Blossom Farms
Established over 30 years ago in Palisade, Pear Blossom Farms produces homegrown products from their fruit orchards, which include peaches, cherries, apples, apricots, raspberries, nectarines, plums and peppers! There's also a production facility on site where the popular Dad's Jalapeño Sauces, peach salsas, fruit syrups, jellies, vinaigrettes, and pickled products are produced. Tours can be scheduled to view the farm and the fruit orchards. The farm also has a market where samples are shared for your enjoyment.
On Saturdays from noon to 5:00 p.m., the farm takes tasting a step further with its free “Nosh Party,” featuring samples and bites made with locally sourced ingredients. It’s a delicious way to experience the area’s agricultural heritage—and discover a few locally made favorites to take home.
How to Support Grand Junction Farms
Interested in learning more about how you can help support Colorado farms? Check out a few more of our favorite ways to shop and eat locally-grown foods in Grand Junction.
Visit a Farm or Orchard
In addition to selling their products at farmer’s markets, many local farms also open their doors to the public. With family-run farms located in Grand Junction, it’s easy to pop by a nearby farm shop to pick up fresh produce as well as homemade delicacies like canned goods or baked treats. Depending on the season, some farms also offer U-pick services, where visitors can wander the orchards, picking fruit to take home. U-pick is a great way to take home fresh produce while gaining an understanding of where your food comes from.
Fruit Basket Orchards
Pick fruit straight from the tree at Fruit Basket Orchards, the only full-service U-Pick orchard in western Colorado. The Grand Junction orchard grows a little bit of everything, from peaches, cherries, nectarines, apricots and plums to grapes, pears and 18 varieties of apples. Apple lovers can even find McIntosh and Cortland, two varieties more commonly associated with orchards in the Northeast of the United States, along with other more local favorites such as Gala and Honeycrisp. If you have never had a McIntosh or Cortland apple, stopping by Fruit Basket should be on your bucket list. If it grows on the property and is ripe, guests are invited to pick it and take it home. Before you leave, stop by the onsite store for freshly made jams, local honey, dried apples, dried peaches and other seasonal goods. Fruit availability changes throughout the season, so check what’s ripe before heading out.
Okagawa Farms
Although the farm is not on-site, Okagawa Farms, in Grand Junction, is a large market with shelves and bins overflowing with the Grand Junction area’s bounty. This large market is stocked with fresh fruit, vegetables, honey, pantry items, plants, and flowers.
Redlands Fruit Peaches and Plums
For a charming farm stand in Grand Junction, stop by Redlands Fruit Peaches and Plums. It’s located in front of the fields where the fruit and produce are grown. They are known for their reasonable prices, great views and a wide variety of produce including apples, plums, pears, peaches, peppers, potatoes, and cherries. You can even pick your own asparagus from April through May! If you time it right, they also stock fresh sourdough loaves, pottery, and other boutique gifts.
Explore the Farmer’s Market
Grand Junction’s Market on Main is a great place to discover local produce, as well as baked goods, artisanal food, and hand-made crafts. Every Thursday evening from early July to late September, four blocks of Main Street are transformed into a pedestrian market. Fresh produce that is grown just miles away fills patrons' bags, including succulent Colorado peaches, bushels of crunchy apples, and sweet red cherries. Rows of freshly baked bread provide a veritable feast, complemented by a variety of culinary and artisanal products. Drop by for not only fresh groceries, but also to enjoy the entertainment, artist booths, and live music.
Dine at a Farm-to-Table Restaurant in Grand Junction
If you’re not one for at-home cooking, you can still show support for local farms and enjoy the fruits of their labor by checking out one of Grand Junction’s many farm-to-table restaurants. Skilled local chefs transform Colorado vegetables, fruits, herbs, and sustainably sourced meats, eggs, and dairy into mouthwatering dishes. Plus, you’re not starved for choices either: Grand Junction is home to a wide variety of farm-to-table eateries that are influenced by southwestern cuisine, as well as French and Italian culture. Grand Junction’s culinary scene is bursting with flavors from the area.
The Finest Colorado Food
Although Grand Junction is known for its outdoor adventures, it’s also ideal for those who are interested in an innovative food scene. Learn more about Grand Junction’s culinary landscape and check out some of our food recommendations for Grand Junction.
For more ways to discover Grand Junction's locally grown food scene, check out the Official Grand Junction Visitor Guide.