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Press Releases
For more information contact:
Durango Area Tourism Office: John Cohen, Executive Director,
111 S. Camino Del Rio – Durango, CO 81301 1-800-GO DURANGO, 1-800-525-8855, www.durango.org
Media contact: Anne Barney, anne@durango.org, (970)749-0991, (970)247-3500
April 15, 2009--For Immediate Release
Farms, Food and Fun in the Southwest Corner of the Rockies
Durango/La Plata County fit the trend of Agritourism
Agritourism \ag-ri-too-iz-uhm\
- Any activities, events and services relcated to agriculture that take place on or off the farm or ranch, and that connect consumers with the heritage, natural resource or culinary experience they value.
- Tourism in which tourists take part in farm or village activities, as animal and crop care, cooking and cleaning, handicrafts, and entertainments.
http://dictionary.reference.com/ & http://www.colorado.gov
Durango, Colo--With the increased awareness of sustainability, health and the desire to become educated on where your food is coming from, Agritourism is a growing travel trend. The Durango area provides the perfect venue for agritourism with 300+ days of sunshine, more restaurants per capita than San Francisco and great farmers/ranchers that work with famous chefs such as Celebrity Chef Darren McGrady (Royal Family in England) and Emril Lagasses. The area offers an unforgettable rural experience and a breathtaking location where vacation and agriculture meet. La Plata County was recently named “One of the Best Places to Live in Rural America “ by The Progressive Farmer. Pick the Durango area to be the setting for your agri-vacation. Here’s a taste of what the Durango Area has to offer:
On-Farm/Ranch
“Agriculture is the heart of the Durango community”, states Julie Hudak, local food advocate. “The Durango area has over 25 farmers/ranchers and a large number of these growers sell their products at the Durango Farmers’ Market, to the 9-R Public School District and area restaurants and grocery stores.” Local growers/ranches include the following: Clearwater Farms, Cottonwood Springs Ranch, Coles Meats and Veggies, Dyer Wool, E.A.S. Enterprises, Evening Star Farm, Fox Fire Farms, James Ranch, Outrun, Regeneration Earth, Regional Agriculture Supply Certified Ital Farms, Rio Grande Alpacas and Icelandic Sheep, Rolling T Ranch and King Club Lambs, Saddle K Ranch, Santa Rita Ranch and Turtle Lake Refuge. These producers offer a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, grass fed and organic beef, pork, lamb, chicken, eggs, churro wool, yarn, flowers, artisian cheese and goat cheese.
If you choose to visit a farm and experience the daily activities and see the animals up close, visit Fox Fire Farms, Turtle Lake Refuge, James Ranch or Rio Grande Alpacas and Icelandic Sheep. Big Corral offers “breakfast rides in the mountains” where you ride by horseback to a pristine mountain meadow bordering the wilderness at an elevation of 9,000 ft.
Dude Ranches
Experience a day in the life of a cowboy and visit one of the areas dude ranches. Dude ranches offer a variety of activities for all ages including horseback riding, fly fishing, cattle drives, ranch work, hiking, gymkhana, cattle sorting and hayrides. Saddle up and hustle to Colorado Trails Ranch, Wilderness Trails Ranch or Wit’s End Guest Ranch.
Manufacturing
Local manufacturers produce scrumptious, flavor-intense foods including 100% fair trade coffee beans from Desert Sun Coffee, chocolate candies from Rocky Mountain Chocolate, all natural sodas from Zubberfizz and honey wine, specialty honey/jams, mustards and BBQ marinades from Honeyville and O’Hare’s Jams and Jellies.
Retail
Durango offers an assortment of shopping experiences for a diverse selection of fresh, high-quality food. The Durango Farmers’ Market, Hummingbird Herbals, Durango Natural Foods, Sunnyside Farms Market, Nature’s Oasis, Dietz Market and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage offer local products and organic fruits, vegetables, meats and herbs along with beauty aids and supplements.
Culinary
The quality of independent restaurants, access to unique and fresh ingredients and the breadth of menu selections in this mountain town boldly challenges the sophisticated culinary offerings of any metropolitan hub. Kennebec, Mahogany Grille, Wine Merchant, Season’s Rotisserie and Grill, Guido’s, The Durango Coffee Company, Just Asian Plus Cooking School and Rylee Mac’s Market & Cooking School are just a few of the restaurants in the area that offer classes, tastings and unique menu items showcasing local foods. If artisan bread is your weakness, put the following locations on your must taste list: Bread, Jean Pierre’s and Cosmopolitan.
Microbreweries
Self-proclaimed as the “Napa Valley of Beer” and “City of Brewery Love”, Durango is home to four micro breweries/brewpubs. Due to the readily available “first use” water, Durango is ideal for brewing beer. Each brewery is known for their own specialty: Durango Brewing Co.’s wheat beer, Ska’s True Blonde, Steamworks Brewing Co’s lager beers and Carver’s Brewing Co’s Old Oak Amber.
Durango Area Special Events
Durango celebrates food, the community and the seasons at the plethora of themed-events. Special events include: Wine Experience, Taste of Durango, Tour de Farms, The Great Pumpkin Patch Express, Home Grown Weekend and Iron Horse Chef at the Durango Farmer’s Market. Come join in the fun and family friendly events: watch local chefs compete in cooking contests, taste wine, make fresh cider, tour the Durango area on a bike from farm to farm or sample the best food in the area at food and beverage festivals.
Agritourism provides a healthy and educational twist on your vacation for a memorable experience. The Durango area offers a southwestern setting and convenient locations for shopping, eating, festivities and more. With a plethora of fresh food, goodies and beer, Durango is the ideal choice for your next getaway. For information on Agritourism in the Durango area visit www.durango.org or call (970) 247-3500.
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The Durango Area Tourism Office is a not-for-profit organization operating with the mission to promote Durango and La Plata County’s multitude of tourism attractions, events and services. For more information, visit www.durango.org or call (970) 247-3500.
