Local Colorado Companies Bridge Gap Between Producers and Consumers
In partnership with: Colorado Department of Agriculture
In a time when businesses strive for more transparency in their supply chains, local Colorado companies work to bridge the gap between producers and consumers.
With more than 36,000 farms and ranches producing cattle and calves, corn, wheat, and many other commodities, consumers have access to a vast array of homegrown products to nourish themselves and their families.
See more: Colorado Ranchers and Farmers Teach the Importance of Ag to the Next Generation
Spirit Hound Distillers
Spirit Hound Distillers in Lyons was founded in 2011 and focuses on showcasing the flavors of Colorado with local ingredients.
In a state renowned as the fourth highest producer of barley nationwide, the distiller also enjoys ready access to top-tier local barley, further elevating the quality of its authentic Colorado spirits and connecting the state’s consumers to locally produced commodities.
“When we started Spirit Hound, one of my tenets was, ‘We should be using Colorado grain.’ One hundred percent grain-to-glass,” says Craig Engelhorn, Spirit Hound Distillers head distiller and co-founder. “In those days, the only Colorado maltster was the Colorado Malting Company – the Cody family in the San Luis Valley. We became fast friends, and they supplied all our malt. They still supply all our peated smoked malt, and we also get grain from Proximity Malt, which is also supporting Colorado agriculture.”
Spirit Hound’s craft spirits pair Rocky Mountain snowmelt water with raw honey from a neighboring apiary and locally sourced botanicals.
“We’re lucky to live in Colorado,” Engelhorn says. “Colorado’s agriculture has everything from Palisade peaches to high country rye. We have grass-fed beef that’s unrivaled and an extreme range of products we should be proud of.”
Their efforts have been recognized worldwide, with Spirit Hound’s Straight Malt Whisky winning “Whisky of the Year” in 2022 and 2024 at the London International Spirits Competition.
See more: Colorado Agritourism Destinations Offer Unique Adventures
Stagecoach Meat Company
Less than 100 miles from Spirit Hound, nestled on the high plains just east of Denver, is Stagecoach Meat Company in Wiggins. Under the joint ownership of Kris and Jessica Musgrave and Travis and Stacy Cowan, the meat processing company caters to the needs of as many as 200 ranchers. They process quarters, halves and wholes of cattle for direct sale to their customers.
An impressive 79.5% of Colorado’s ranching operations and farms are proudly family-owned. Drawing from their upbringing in that setting, the Musgraves and Cowans thrive in their role as connectors between the dedicated cattle ranchers and the consumers.
“My husband and I were born and raised in agriculture,” Jessica Musgrave says. “My parents are still farming, so we know firsthand the fight and the drive to keep production not only on the farming side but also on the ranching side. It’s super important to Colorado’s food chain.”
And Stagecoach Meat Company is a strong advocate for Colorado’s agricultural industry. “Everybody likes locally raised products,” Musgrave says. “But everyone doesn’t understand the time and energy it takes to grow the food we put on our table. Agriculture is a personal investment of time and energy, and we definitely want to support that and continue to support local producers.”
See more: Colorado Organizations Address Food Accessibility Issues Created by Food Deserts
Colo-Pac Produce
Drive west on Interstate 76 to Denver, and you’ll find Colo-Pac Produce, a company bringing producers and consumers together since 1929. Originally a tomato processor, the Colorado company has expanded to include a wide variety of produce. Jake Trujillo, vice president of Colo-Pac, oversees food service and sales in the growing company.
He’s most excited about his partnership with Nourish Colorado on a farm-to-school program providing the state’s youngest generation with healthy produce, including peaches, pears and apples, for a promising future.
“I’ve been working really hard fighting to supply school districts with all fresh produce grown in Colorado,” Trujillo says. “It’s a good feeling to know you’re helping these kids get the nutrition they need.”
See more: Colorado Grain Chain Seeks to Increase Market Demand and Awareness for Locally Grown Grains