Colorado Proud Newsletter
Novmeber 2009 Colorado Proud Newsletter
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Colorado Proud News & Events
Grants
Trade Shows
Other News, Events & Opportunities
Classifieds
Colorado Proud News & Events
Country of Origin Labeling. You have heard the term "COOL," but do you know what it means to you as a food producer or processor? Visit www.coloradoproud.org for a fact sheet about COOL and how the Colorado Proud logo can be used to meet labeling requirements. For more information about Country of Origin Labeling, visit www.ams.usda.gov/cool.
WestEx 2010. I'm starting to make plans for the Colorado Proud area for WestEx 2010, which is May 11 at the Denver Merchandise Mart. This restaurant show is presented by the Colorado Restaurant Association and Sysco Denver. More than 5,000 hospitality industry representatives are expected to attend. Full and half booths are available, with pricing the same as 2009: $1,150 for a full booth and $575 for a half booth. Payment and paperwork will not be due until February 2010. If you are interested in exhibiting, contact Wendy at (303) 239-4119.
Colorado Food & Beverage Gift Guide. The holidays are just around the corner and consumers are looking for great Colorado gifts. The Colorado Food & Beverage Gift guide lists food and agricultural products that are perfect for the gift-giving season. Visit www.coloradoproud.org and click on "Find a Colorado Gift" to complete the listing form to be included in the directory free of charge. For more information, contact Loretta Lopez at (303) 239-4115.
Annual Photography Contest Celebrates Colorado Agriculture. To showcase the diversity of Colorado agriculture, the "Colorado...it's AgriCultural" photography contest is seeking entries for this year's contest. Entries must be submitted to the Colorado Department of Agriculture with an official entry form by December 31, 2009. All photographs must be taken in the 2009 calendar year and must relate to Colorado agriculture in some way. Prizes will be awarded in four subject areas: crops, livestock, people and agritourism. Judging will be based on theme, creativity and technical quality. The photographer whose picture best depicts the "spirit" of Colorado agriculture will receive a $150 gift card, and category winners will receive a "Colorado...it's AgriCultural" prize pack. All winning photographs will be displayed in the Beede-Hamil Agriculture Building at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo. Visit www.coloradoagriculture.com/aginsights or call (303) 239-4119 for complete contest rules and an entry form.
Kudos Korner. The Tea Spot's Tuffy Steeper won the "Top Gear of The Year" award in the tea category, and they also support breast and prostate cancer causes. May Farms made kids at Children's Hospital happy by delivering 200 pumpkins for their annual Pumpkin Patch. Decadence Gourmet Cheesecakes is mentioned in Restaurant Business Magazine and is included Real Simple Magazine's Holiday Gift Guide. Mark Schlereth's "Stinkin" Good Green Chile was featured on The Food Network show "Unwrapped." Denver Meat Company will have products featured in the Cabela's Gift Catalog. Boulder's Best Organics has recently been recognized as the second "fastest-growing company" in Boulder.
New Product News. Gilberto's Gourmet Goodness products are available at King Soopers, Whole Foods, Vitamin Cottage, Sunflower Market, Albertson's, Beaver's Market, FTC Food Co-Op and Jax Outdoor. Coming Soon, Colorado's Best Organics. In addition to the Boulder's Best Organics collections, the company is introducing Colorado's Best Organics gift boxes for statewide and nationwide gift giving, featuring organic, eco-friendly products from across Colorado.
What's New? Do you have new products coming soon or have you won an exciting award? If so, let me know! I'd love to hear about what is new. If you have news to share, contact Wendy at (303) 239-4119.
Featured Member. Don't forget to visit the "Featured Member" section at www.coloradoproud.org. November showcases Chocolate Crisis Center. Would you like to be included online as the featured member? Call Wendy at (303) 239-4119 to reserve a month. As a featured member, you must include the Colorado Proud logo on your website.
Co-Packers & Kitchens Needed! I get at least one call a day from start-up food processors looking for a co-packer or to rent commercial kitchen space to manufacture their product. I maintain the online "Colorado Co-Pack Directory," but I know there are other companies that provide these services. If you have kitchen space to rent or if you are a co-packer, please visit the Co-Pack Directory to make sure you are included. If you are not listed, complete and return the listing form available on the website. There is no cost to be included in this online directory.
Grants
Looking for Grants? Visit www.grants.gov.
Know Your Farmer. Know Your Food. Visit www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer for information about grants and loans.
Value-Added Grants. USDA Rural Development welcomes projects that highlight innovative uses of agricultural products. This may include using existing agricultural products in non-traditional ways and/or merging agricultural products with technology in creative ways. As with all value-added efforts, generating new products, creating expanded marketing opportunities and increasing producer income are the end goal. Applications proposing to develop innovative, sustainable products, businesses, or marketing opportunities that accelerate creation of new economic opportunities and commercialization in the agri-food, agri-science, or agriculture products integrated or merged with other sciences or technologies are invited. This may include alternative uses of agricultural products as well as, value-added processing of agricultural commodities to produce bio-materials (e.g. plastics, fiberboard), green chemicals, functional foods (e.g. lutin enhanced ''power bar'' snacks, soy enhanced products), nutraceuticals, on-farm renewable energy, and biofuels (e.g. ethanol, biodiesel). Awards may be made for planning activities or for working capital expenses, but not for both. The maximum grant amount for a planning grant is $100,000 and the maximum grant amount for a working capital grant is $300,000. Eligible Applicants must be an Independent Producer, Agriculture Producer Group, Farmer or Rancher Cooperative, or Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Business Venture. The application deadline is November 30, 2009. Visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm for more information and to review the application process.
Trade Shows
2009 Southlands Holiday Food and Gift Show. Booth space available at this 35,000 square foot boutique-style store set in a bustling, established outdoor mall. Each space is unique in its dimensions and location. The store brings in shoppers by offering custom made, hard to find, beautifully handcrafted food and gifts. The show will be held in the main plaza of the Southlands Shopping Center in Aurora. The show will be on weekends starting at the end of November and running through December. For more information, contact Nanci Simmons at (303) 621-8081 or e-mail simmons03@att.net.
"Colorado Proud Pavilion" at the Denver Home Show. The Denver Home Show at the National Western Complex on March 19-21, 2010, invites all members of Colorado Proud to exhibit at the discounted rate of $349 per booth. (Booths measure 5' x 10' and include electricity.) If interested in exhibiting your products to thousands of consumers at the Denver Home Show contact Laura Martin at (512) 248-2088 or e-mail LauraM@marketplaceEvents.com.
Denver Gift, Home, Jewelry & Resort Show. The next gift show at the Denver Merchandise Mart is February 27-March 2, 2010. Colorado Proud will be unable to have a section at this show, but if you are interested in exhibiting, contact Bridget Oakes at (303) 292-6278 x5295 or visit www.denvermart.com.
Other News, Events & Opportunities
2009 Colorado Cattle Crawl. Join the Colorado Chefs Association and the Colorado Beef Council on Monday, November 9 for a progressive dinner featuring the top chefs in Black Hawk Casinos! Enjoy appetizers at the Riviera, soup and salad at the Isle and entrée and dessert at Ameristar. The fun begins at 6pm and tickets are $50/person. For more information, visit www.acfcoloradochefs.org.
Gluten Free Dining Guide. If you are a restaurant that offers gluten free dining options, On The Menu is offering a way to promote your business. Visit www.dineglutenfree.com or e-mail info@otmenu.com for more information.
Workshops. There are a variety of local organizations that host business workshops. Be sure to visit the following sites for great information and event calendars.
Aurora Business Development Center: www.aurorabdc.com
Colorado Small Business Administration: http://www.sba.gov/localresources/district/co/index.html
Colorado Small Business Development Center Networks: www.coloradosbdc.org
Denver Metro Small Business Development Center: www.denversbdc.org
SCORE: www.score.org
ActionCOACH: www.actioncoach.com/yolandaduperret/events.php
Classifieds
If you have information you would like to include in the "Classifieds," please send a short paragraph to Wendy at Wendy.White@ag.state.co.us by the 25th of the month for inclusion in the newsletter. Ads will be removed after two months.
Service Guide. Looking for label printers or a graphic designer? How about a web development company or food consultant? Be sure to visit the Colorado Proud Service Guide for a helpful list of contacts.
Looking for Kitchen Space or a Co-Packer? Visit our Colorado Co-Pack Directory online.
Co-Packing, Kitchen Network at Morrison Road Complex. Our experience and knowledge has been expanded to a new level. As of September 2009 we are pleased to announce the certification prescribed by the FDA at the University of Lincoln, NE. Elaine McFerrin, owner/coordinator Kitchen Network, Liz Phairr, and Kandy Arellano Treto, food process co-packers have completed their Certified Food Process Authority program. Professional culinary chef, Nick Blassi, is available on site to assist you in the development of your recipes, expansion, ingredients and nutritionals, using the newest FDA compliant software. We also offer an in-house company to assist you in obtaining any jar, bottle or plastic container at the lowest prices available. Visit www.kitchennetworkdenver.com for more information.
Kitchen Space to Rent. Gilberto's Gourmet Goodness has opened a commissary kitchen in Fort Collins. This has been something that Jay and Danielle, owners of GGG, have wanted to do for quite some time. The couple has gone into business with Jay's older brother and his wife in order to launch the Brown Dog Family Kitchen. The facility is located at 3512 South Mason Street, which is directly behind the Breakfast Club restaurant. Not only will we be producing all 8 of GGG's salsas and sauces there, but we will be developing a catering menu for special parties/events, business lunches, etc. Additionally, we will be renting the kitchen out at an hourly rate to licensed manufacturers that need a facility to produce their products. The equipment available to renters include 2-40 gallon steam jacketed kettles, a double oven with a 10 burner top, 2 walk in refrigerators, dishwasher, etc. Please contact Jay at (970) 217-7072 or e-mail info@gilbertosgourmetgoodness.com if you are interested in visiting the facility.
Kitchen Space to Rent. La Estrellita Salsa has kitchen space available to rent in the Denver area. For more information, contact John Montoya at (720) 404-5613.
*Not all events are sponsored by Colorado Proud, and inclusion in the newsletter does not constitute an endorsement by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.