By Kuvy Ax, ROOT Founder, and Jodie Popma, Boulder County Slow Food Chair
You can still eat local even when the farmers markets close! Winter is a great time to connect with your local food community and fill your table with homegrown goodness while supporting the farmers and producers in your backyard. ROOT Founder Kuvy Ax and Boulder County Slow Food Chair Jodie Popma put together these ideas for happy, healthy, heartwarming holidays – and beyond:

Shop winter & holiday markets
The Boulder County Farmers Markets (BCFM) just ended and will resume in early April, but they host a winter/holiday market at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont — and their online marketplace is open year‑round. bcfm.org
Buy direct from local farms
Many Boulder County farms—such as Ollin Farms, Cure Organic Farm and Aspen Moon Farm—offer online ordering or winter CSA shares with storage‑veggies, eggs and meats. bcfm.org/csa‑guide
Slow Food Boulder County is hosting two CSA fairs early next year- be sure to sign up for their newsletters at the bottom of slowfoodboulder.org.Also be sure to check out the BCFM Food Hub, which connects local farmers, producers, and consumers in our community with a centralized, year-round marketplace for fresh, locally-grown and produced food products. bcfm.org/food-hub

Explore your local butcher & bulk meat buying
Get to know your neighborhood butcher and rancher — and consider buying in bulk (a half, quarter, or other share of an animal) directly from a ranch‐farm partnership.
In Boulder County, we love Grama Grass and Livestock, Buckner Family Ranch, Blackbelly Butcher and Market, and again, the BCFM Food Hub. coloradoproud.com.
The Good Meat Project’s website is full of resources for everything good meat related — from how to buy in bulk, to a “Basic Butcher Terminology” guide, a “Good Meat Finder” to locate shops, and recipe ideas for holiday entrees, everyday meals and more. goodmeatproject.org
Support local producers & grocers
Pick up bread, cheese, honey and pantry goods at spots like Moxie Bread Co., Nude Foods Market and Lucky’s Market in Boulder, and in Longmont, Simply Bulk. Your small purchase means a lot to Colorado’s producers, makers and bakers. coloradoproud.com

Sip local too
Raise a glass of Colorado‑made wine, cider or spirits for your holiday toast — from the likes of BookCliff Vineyards to Dry Land Distillers — and feel good knowing that your dollars support nearby producers. coloradowine.com, coloradograin.com, coloradoproud.com
Bake and brew local
The Colorado Grain Chain is an organization that connects and supports a vibrant, community-centered grain economy in Colorado. Perfect for cozy baking and beverages! Check out the coloradograinchain.com marketplace for info on local grain farmers, maltsters, millers, bakers, brewers, distillers, chefs, suppliers, and food hubs.


Preserve & store your fall harvest
Enjoy local produce all winter by learning how to store it correctly. The Colorado State University Extension’s “Preserve Smart” website and app offers helpful guidance on root‑cellaring, storage vegetables and fall harvesting strategies. foodsmartcolorado.colostate.edu/recipes/preservation/
Search Slow Food Boulder County’s blogs for info on subjects like fermentation (and some great recipes!) slowfoodboulder.org/blog

And last but definitely not least: stay connected, eat well and support your local farmers, ranchers and producers by joining Slow Food Boulder County (slowfoodboulder.org) or Slow Food Denver (slowfooddenver.org). Support the people who feed us!