Farm2LocalBiz Event Targets Gap Between Local Growers, Food Buyers

Over 100 farmers, ranchers, and food-service representatives will gather Feb. 5, 2026, at the Farm2LocalBiz networking event in Old Town Fort Collins. Co-organized by CSU Extension, the Northern Colorado Foodshed Project, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, and Larimer County agencies, the event targets restaurants, schools, and retailers looking to source more food regionally.

Commercial buyers will receive a $100 discount on their first purchase from a producer at the event.

"Agricultural producers in northern Colorado report it can be a challenge to connect with local commercial markets," says Jessica Callen, Agriculture Specialist for Larimer County CSU Extension. "Our hope is that Farm2LocalBiz changes that."

Northern Colorado producers will display salad greens, beef, honey, and other local staples, offering samples to food-service representatives at each table.

The discount incentive has already proven effective. A business owner following the inaugural 2024 event said, "We've wanted to find a local supplier for honey for a while now. The whole event, meeting St. Michael's Farms, and the incentive was just the incentive we needed to make it happen."

The market opportunity is substantial. CSU data shows Larimer County spends about $197.66 million annually on fresh produce, with roughly $31.78 million counted as locally sourced—about 16.1 percent of total produce dollars.

Larimer's restaurant and food-service revenue totals about $474.6 million annually. CSU estimates chefs spend 35–40 percent of their revenue on food inputs—a market of roughly $166–190 million annually, according to CSU's Northern Colorado Regional Food System Assessment.

School food purchasing also presents opportunity. CSU estimates total school food spending in the region at about $14 million, with about $560,000 in fresh produce potentially available from local growers.

Tracking the event's long-term impact will require better county-level data on restaurant and school food spending, according to CSU and Urban Institute analysts.

The Feb. 5 event at Block One Events in Old Town Fort Collins will feature food sourced directly from attending producers, plus Stodgy Brewing beer and Colorado wines.