Cooking Matters

The Local Foods Coalition is proud to now offer Cooking Matters as a part of our programing to promote healthy local foods!  Email Megan Lehnerd at nutritioned.slvlocalfoods@gmail.com if you have questions about the program or would like to volunteer to teach a class.

Cooking Matters empowers families with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to prepare healthy and affordable meals.  With the help of volunteer culinary and nutrition experts, Cooking Matters course participants learn how to select nutritious and low-cost ingredients and prepare them in ways that provide the best nourishment possible to their families.  

More on the New Local Foods Bill

Liza and Antonio are pictured here with the Governor as he signs the new bill!http://coloradosenate.org/home/features/governor-signs-bipartisan-local-foods-local-jobs-bill-into-law-today

Colorado Cottage Food Bill signed by Governor and in effect!

The San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition is excited to share the news - SB 12-048 sponsored by our champion Senator Gail Schwartz and others was signed into law by the Governor last week!  This allows home kitchen entrepreneurs to Legally sell thier baked goods, jams and jellies, honey and dried herbs and teas to their customers including the farmers market! A comprehensive label and a safe food handling course is required.

Our New Office!

It is official!  The SLV Local Foods Coalition has an office!  We will be sharing space with the Intregrated Nutrition Education Program at 613 4th Street in Alamosa (Thanks Luette!!).  Come visit Julie and Megan, our new Nutrition Education Coordinator, who will be operating the Cooking Matters program, as well as overseeing other nutrition initiatives that Local Foods is sponsoring.

Local Foods, Local Jobs

Good News for Colorado Farmers Markets!!  Thank you Senator Schwartz and Representative Coram!

COLORADO COTTAGE FOODS ACT HEADING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK
DENVER—The House of Representatives passed the Colorado Cottage Foods Act today. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Don Coram, has sweet-lovers around the state licking their lips. Senate Bill 48 will give cottage bakers and other home industry, non-hazardous food producers the freedom to sell their goods directly to consumers, which is currently prohibited under Colorado law. Non-hazardous foods are low in moisture and may be maintained at room temperature with minimal risk of spoiling, like refrigerated foods such as meat or cooked vegetables would. “This bill will prove a boon to our state’s cottage industry food producers,” said Coram, R-Montrose. “Under this bill, full-time moms, dads and others with a passion for cooking can share their creations and boost their household income. This is a good jobs bill.”  Under Coram’s measure, producers must be certified in safe food handling and sell their food directly to consumers, such as through a farmers’ market, a roadside stand or from home. The Colorado Cottage Foods Act would add Colorado to the list of 26 other states who allow home-based bakeries. Coram’s bill exempts small producers from commercial licensing requirements not only for baked goods, but also for items like teas, jellies and even certain egg producers who sell fewer than 250 dozens of eggs a month. Coram’s bill passed with bipartisan support and now awaits the governor’s signature.