Food & Agriculture Policy Working Group The Food, Agriculture, and Farm to School Committee of SASCO is also known as the Southwest Colorado Food and Agriculture Policy Working Group— one of several similar groups operating across Colorado. The aim of these working groups is to take a broad, long term, and positive approach to developing appropriate food and Agricultural policies in Colorado. The initiatives that you see below are just a few examples of what communities are undertaking to achieve this goal. These working groups are networked by the Colorado Food and Agriculture Policy Council.
Revised La Plata County Land Use Code The Food, Agriculture, and Farm to School group worked with Jeanne Trupiano of the Animas Land Trust to submit comments on the draft revised Land Use Code. The main concern of the committee was that the code should not present unnecessary obstacles to Agriculture production — from large-scale to very small-scale — or alternative marketing efforts such as roadside stands.
See the La Plata County web site for the latest on the revision process and hearings schedule.
Fort Lewis Mesa Planning Process Several members of the committee are involved in a planning process to help preserve Agriculture in the western part of La Plata County. We believe that growing for the local market can be a viable strategy to help keep Agriculture profitable in this area and to encourage widespread public support of our farmers and ranchers. Contact county planner Erick Aune for more information and to get involved.
Grassroots Visioning Process The Grassroots Vision Project is a comprehensive community process aimed at soliciting community input about core values in La Plata County along with a vision for 2030, in order to help planning efforts in La Plata County and Durango. To get involved, contact Katherine Holt.
