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Chef Wayne – Videos and RecipesDid You Know? – Enstrom’s CandiesDid You Know? -- Wine CountryColorado Wines: What We’re MakingWine Tasting 101
 
  HARVEST, SEASONS AND BLOOMS By Nancy Yackel The Annual Palisade Peach Festival will be in full bloom August 19-22, 2010. Take advantage of special packages created especially for this fruit-centric festival, which offers pure family fun with more than 100 food, art and craft vendors, live music, a children's area, culinary events and, of course, peaches! Check our peach packages that will be available on the website in July. Harvest, Seasons and Blooms Bushel baskets piled high with red-cheeked peaches, bins of Gala apples, boxes of Bartlett pears – I can't resist the bounty of Colorado's Grand Valley. From the first blossoms of spring until snow covers the last unclaimed pumpkins, I'm drawn to this fertile region for fresh produce and quality local products. While one-stop shopping at any of the numerous produce stands could fill my needs, the hunter/gatherer in me loves to spend the day wandering back roads, meeting the growers, and sampling their treasures. With a "Fruit & Winery Guide" in hand I start in Palisade. It's hard to miss Herman Produce with its bright coat of peachy pink paint and green trim. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, Herman Produce carries a large selection of Colorado gourmet food items. When I get to the spicy salsas, the hard part comes in narrowing down the ones to add to my basket.
"Would you like to try a Crest Haven?" asks gregarious Barbara Bikki, who welcomes visitors to her Ranch of Liberty orchard stand. Barbara and her husband Leslie came to Grand Junction during harvest season 1957, escapees from communist Hungary. Leslie picked peaches for 15 cents a bushel. Barbara frequently shares their fascinating story and love for America with visitors. I depart not only with boxes of fruit but a strong sense of patriotism and faith. During a stop at DeBeque Canyon Winery, I meet a couple from Steamboat Springs. They're spending the day cycling the patchwork landscape of wineries and orchards—and planning purchases for the next day before heading home. Juices pressed from a combination of tart and sweet apples blend to create the distinctive Mountain Gold brand of apple cider at Talbott's. A visit to their market includes a tour of the cider mill and cool sips on the country porch. Although I can purchase Mountain Gold in my local market, there's something sweeter about buying direct. Lloyd and Betty Tidwell prepare and sell pies and jerky at Rancho Fruita. Betty bakes pies reminiscent of Grandma's and the jerky is quite tasty and made from the eye of a round steak. The day's shopping concludes at Alida's Fruits where I add Olathe sweet corn and Jonathan apples to my stash. Peach salsa, fruit-flavored applesauces, ice cream toppings, jams, jellies and syrups – Alida's Fruits products make great gifts as well as supplies for the pantry. Those with less time find farmers' markets a great way to sample local fare during summer. On Thursday evenings, the Farmers' Market Festival (5-8:30 p.m.; mid-June through mid-September) fills several downtown Grand Junction blocks with just picked produce, local products, and floral fantasies. Artisans, crafters, musicians, and wine and produce vendors gather for the Palisade Sunday Market (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; mid-June to mid-October). Special events add fun and festivities to seasonal calendars. In May, the Fruit Loop Tour finds cyclists riding through vineyards and blooming orchards. Palisade Peach Festival in August highlights the peak of the peach season with a pancake breakfast, parade, recipe contest, music, and of course a peach eating contest. Palisade's Riverbend Park fills to the brim for the Colorado Mountain Winefest. Winetastings, chef demonstrations, bike tour, live jazz, and grape stomp keep celebrants busy. Cross Orchards Historic Site salutes the area's early fruit growers during the annual Chatauqua. Cherries, peaches, apples, salsas, jams, and wines – the flavors of the Grand Valley linger long after each visit. For more information, view our Food & Wine slideshow here. |
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