Press Release

Pumpkins are the classic taste of fall in North America, just witness the rise of pumpkin spice in almost every pastry and drink offered from September through November. With names like Tricky Jack, Spooktacular, and Ghost Rider, pumpkins are fun whether you’re carving a jack-o-lantern for the front porch or digging in to create a delicious dish. In this recipe, the Colorado Proud team takes a classic Italian staple, gnocchi, and adds pumpkin for the perfect autumn taste.

Today, children across the state celebrated Colorado Proud School Meal Day. Hosted annually by the Colorado Departments of Agriculture and of Education, this day celebrates Colorado agriculture and educates K-12 school kids about healthy eating – and about where their food comes from.

To help demonstrate one of the many ways agriculture can contribute to addressing the effects of climate change, Colorado is investing $500,000 in projects that help advance the use of agrivoltaics in the state. 

Agrivoltaics is the practice of co-locating solar energy installations and agriculture, with crops or grazing land beneath or between rows of photovoltaic panels. Now, farmers, ranchers, and other landowners with innovative ideas on how to use agrivoltaics in Colorado will have a chance to apply for funding for their projects. 

Today, Colorado State Veterinarian Dr. Maggie Baldwin released the last premises quarantine in Colorado enacted as a result of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak. With the release of the final HPAI quarantine, Colorado has achieved HPAI-free status as designated by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

Colorado is good at growing potatoes, whether it’s in the San Luis Valley, Eastern Plains, or even on the Front Range! Perhaps the most well known potatoes come from the San Luis Valley, which is home to many potato farming families who grow more than 70 varieties of potatoes. With plenty of sunshine and higher elevations, the valley’s mild growing conditions are ideal for potatoes. They even celebrate the potato with its very own festival!

All 12 Wines Will be Available to Taste Alongside Chef Pairings During the Colorado Uncorked Public Tasting Event on November 3rd

The 2023 Colorado’s Electric Cooperatives Junior Livestock Sale held today at the Colorado State Fair raised more than $470,350 in the auction of 108 animals raised and shown by young people from across Colorado. The 2023 Grand Champion Market Beef, raised by Hadli Gabel of Weld County, was sold for $50,000 at today’s event and was purchased by the Sam Brown family.

From the six food trucks competing in the third annual Governor’s Plate competition at the Colorado State Fair, Stoke Pizza received the Golden Plate award for their wood-fired chorizo, elote, and green chile pizza. Papa Mario’s Grilled Cheese was chosen as the People’s Choice winner for a third year in a row for their Tiff Special roast beef sandwich. 

Governor Jared Polis sampled all dishes to award the Golden Plate and event attendees voted on their favorites during the event.

Blockchain is an emerging technology that has seen increased use across the agricultural supply chain, and the Colorado Department of Agriculture is sharing a series of educational videos to address general questions and concerns about blockchain technology. Funded through House Bill 22-1053, the four videos are helping explain how blockchain can help agricultural businesses across the world create efficiencies and increase profit. 

Hope you’re ready to have “Mountains of Fun” as the 151st Colorado State Fair kicks off today! The fairgrounds in Pueblo are bustling as organizers get ready to host approximately half a million fairgoers during the course of the next 11 days. This year's Colorado State Fair runs from August 25, through Labor Day, September 4, 2023.