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Fort Collins is an amazing city. The beer, the community feel, the music scene: there’s no shortage of reasons to love it. One of the coolest aspects of living in this city is easy access to all the tools you need to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Fort Collins has an amazing selection of organic grocers and farmers’ markets. It’s enough to make the healthy eater swoon. Let’s take a look at a few of the best stores and farmers’ markets in Fort Collins that you won’t want to miss.
Drake Road Farmers’ Market
This farmers’ market is a great place to spend your Saturday morning. With around thirty-five vendors in attendance, you can score anything from delicious local honey to handmade jewelry. Drake Road Farmers’ Market opens at 10 a.m., which gives you plenty of time to sleep in without missing out on any products. Their first day of the season will be Saturday, April 21st. Since most farmers’ markets don’t crop up until May, this is a great way to get your local, organic fix early in the year!
Fort Collins Food Co-Op
If you’re looking for an organic grocer with true FoCo charm, look no further than Fort Collins Food Co-op. Whether you’re a member or not, you can get all sorts of local, organic goodies and select from over 200 bulk items, including olive oil and shampoo. The Co-op offers pretty much anything you’d expect to find at the grocery store, but if they don’t carry the item you’re looking for, they’ll order it for you. And since the Co-op puts sustainability above all else, shopping here is a great way to lessen your environmental impact.
Larimer County Farmers’ Market
Larimer County Farmers’ Market has been serving fresh eats to Fort Collins residents since 1975. In fact, it’s the oldest farmers’ market in Northern Colorado. Right in the heart of Old Town, the Larimer County Farmers’ Market is an important facet of a Fort Collins summer. Every product available is grown, produced, or made by the vendor. This market is dog-friendly, so don’t hesitate to bring your pup along 0with you. If you’re lucky, you might even catch some live music! Starting in May, this classic farmers’ market will be open every Saturday (permitting good weather) from 8 a.m. to noon.
Beavers Market
Ever experienced a full-service grocery store? If not, swing on by Beavers Market, the last remaining store of its kind in Fort Collins. Don Beaver opened up shop in 1946 in Fairmont, Nebraska. In the mid-seventies, Don’s son Doug decided to start his own branch of the family store. He originally took his business to Grand Junction, but within the year, he headed east to try his luck in Fort Collins. And since 1976, the market has been successfully serving the community. Since it’s a full-service grocery store, they’ll help you carry your groceries to your car. You can even pay for your internet and gas bill while you pick up your veggies. Check out BeaversMarket.com for health and wellness tips, wine pairings, and recipes.
Fort Collins Farmers’ Market
This one is for my friends in southern FoCo! The Fort Collins Farmers’ Market has one location off of Harmony and another in Loveland. Rain or shine, you can go to the Fort Collins location on Sundays and Wednesdays or the Loveland location on Saturdays and Tuesdays. Vendors are up and running at both locations by 11 a.m. (which is even later than the Drake Farmers’ Market). If you’re not a morning person, this is definitely the farmers’ market for you! Some of their vendors, such as Sweet European Treats and The Bread Chic, will take special orders for pick up on the day of the market—and they’ll even make deliveries. They have a great presence on social media, which makes it easy to stay up to date on all the goings-on.
The Classics
Fort Collins residents are extremely fortunate to have organic grocers just about everywhere. Some of us have to go out of our way to find a place to shop organic. Luckily, even if you’re not near any of the local grocers or farmers’ markets listed above, you can still find plenty of options all over town. Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, and Sprouts all have stores in Fort Collins. So, whether you’re near Old Town or off Timberline, you’ll never have to settle for less.
Each grocer and market mentioned above offers a little special something special. You get to support local business, score the organic goodness dreams are made of, and experience an all-around fantastic shopping experience. More great news? You can take advantage of plenty of bargains that will help you achieve your wellness goals on the cheap all across Fort Collins. For more information on farmers’ markets or CSAs in your area, visit LocalHarvest.com.
Image from iStock/grki.
