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Food Shed Project outlines farm accelerator, mobile market and permitting barriers for local food access
Summary
Larimer County’s local food markets action team detailed a three-year farm accelerator, plans for a mobile farmers market and persistent permitting and zoning barriers that limit producer opportunities and farm-to-market access.
Larimer County presenters and nonprofit partners outlined Feb. 10 how a farm-accelerator program, a shared washpack and a soon-to-launch mobile market aim to increase local-food access, but noted permitting and zoning remain major barriers for producers.
Carly Donahue, executive director of Food Shed Project, described the group’s farm business accelerator on 15 acres at the Floristore Sol site, an ongoing partnership with Poudre Valley Community Farms and programming that includes business coaching, market links and hands-on training for new and transitioning farmers.
Why it matters: Increasing farmers’ access to processing, markets and business supports helps local producers scale, improves the resiliency of the local food system and increases access to fresh produce for underserved communities.
Program details and barriers
- Farm Business Accelerator: The accelerator places producers on shared land with three-year cohort supports covering production, business planning, market connections and shared infrastructure; the program also delivers community education such as cover-cropping and tax/lease issues.
- Shared washpack and markets: Partners described a $350,000 grant for a shared washpack (noted by Poudre Valley Community Farms) and Food Shed Project said it is building a mobile market vehicle (a converted van/truck) to serve low-income and rural communities in partnership with the Food Bank for Larimer County and local community organizations.
- Permitting and zoning challenges: Donahue told commissioners that survey respondents and producers repeatedly cited permitting and zoning (farm-stand permitting, agricultural building use and small-event permitting) as the top administrative barriers to diversifying farm income and hosting on-site markets or educational events.
- Language access and marketing: The team highlighted the need for interpretation and translation resources to reach Latino and other underserved producers and customers, and for marketing support and producer story-telling to boost local demand.
Commissioner engagement and next steps
Commissioners praised the partnerships and emphasized education for consumers (cookery demonstrations and quick recipes) to increase uptake of fresh produce. Food Shed Project asked county staff to suggest pilot locations for the mobile market and invited feedback on how to reach priority communities.
No formal county action or vote was taken during the presentation.
Sources: Presentation by Carly Donahue, Food Shed Project, and related panelists to Larimer County Board of County Commissioners, Feb. 10, 2025.
