Made in Colorado

     In a world of mass produced food items, today's consumers are turning back to a simpler time when hand-crafted "artisan" products offered not only quality but a one-of-a-kind food experience. This trend includes the consumer's desire to know where their food originates and a developing palate for bolder, more intense flavors inspired in part by cooking shows and a growing global marketplace.

Artisan cheese, for example, is the fastest growing segment of the multi-billion dollar cheese industry. Currently there are specialty cheese makers operating in 43 states crafting over 350 varieties of American-made cheese. Locally, Rocking W Cheese and Milk opened this past June near Olathe. The family-run business produces nine different artisan cheeses in addition to milk and cream.

Another popular item found gracing many Colorado gift baskets is locally produced wine. During the past 25 years, the number of Colorado wineries has grown from one to more than 50. Based primarily on the Western Slope, wineries contributed more than $40 million to the state's economy during the 2005 season, as reported  by Colorado State University. There are a dozen different wineries located in Delta and Montrose counties, many family owned and operated, all dedicated to the fine art of making wine.

"They (artisans) can have amazing products, but it's often the marketing of those products that takes extra time, effort and money," said Susan Kelley. Her company, Telluride Gift Baskets, was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the State of Colorado (Colorado Proud) to expand into a web-based, artisan food company, featuring Colorado products. The operation would be the first of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region.   

"I already have about 80 percent of my inventory from Colorado produced companies, mostly small and family run enterprises," Kelley said, adding that this grant will allow her to rebrand from simply a gift basket company to a purveyor of unique artisan products. "We will also be able to add more difficult to find products to our inventory and become a retail distributor of these goods."

Kelley has lived in Telluride for 12 years; previous to that she lived in Montrose and was a river ranger in the Gunnison Gorge.

"I'm a big fan of working for myself," she said. Her gift basket company originally started as a tourist-based business, but has grown into a much broader purpose.

Much of this success can be credited to the "blossoming of farmers' markets selling locally grown and organic produce. Consumers want to know where their food is coming from."

Two of her most popular gift basket items are made in Montrose--Colorado Elk Jerky and Montrose Cookies.

Kelley hopes to have her expanded website up and running by next Christmas.

"It will be a showcase for Colorado-made products," she said, explaining that the sales outlet will allow producers to focus more on their products and less on marketing. Marketing is a difficult job in and of itself, particularly given the constraints of limited resources that most small businesses face. Kelley will also continue to update her vendor list, including brief profiles of each vendor and their products.

"As our world continues to become a more global market, I believe people will seek out food produced by a farmer or a trustworthy source and it will become more than just a trend," Kelley said.