Our Community Eats Partners with Regional Farms and Ranchers Pagosa Springs, CO
Our Community Eats (OCE) is proud to showcase partnerships with several exceptional regional food producers who share OCE’s mission of providing high-quality, sustainable, and locally sourced food to the community. OCE is currently collaborating with Beet Street Organic Farm, Gosar Ranch Natural Meats, and Mountain Mama Milling—three outstanding operations that embody the values of local resilience, sustainability, and community nourishment.
Beet Street Organic Farm — Animas River Valley, North of Durango.
Founded in 2016 by Brian and Stacey Petrie, Beet Street Organic Farm is a family-run operation where the couple and their two daughters cultivate a diverse array of vegetables on more than nine acres. Dedicated to producing nutrient-rich, high-quality produce, the Petries employ conservation land management practices that improve soil health and increase biodiversity.
Beet Street operates as a wholesale business, and OCE is proud to be one of their clients. Currently, OCE purchases produce from them twice a month, investing between $3,000 and $6,000 per month during the growing season. Their exceptional produce helps OCE provide nutritious, fresh vegetables to pantry patrons throughout the region.
Gosar Ranch Natural Meats — Monte Vista
Gosar Ranch has been producing premium European-style sausages since 1900, when Grandpa Frank emigrated from southern Austria and began the family’s sausage- making tradition. Now in its sixth generation, the Gosar family continues crafting sausages with no preservatives, nitrites, additives, fillers, or MSG in their organically certified, USDA-inspected facility located on the ranch. Their sausages are packaged in one-pound vacuum-sealed packs, and OCE currently purchases nine varieties at a time, spending approximately $6,000 per month. As a wholesale client, OCE is proud to share these high-quality, locally produced meats with the community.
Mountain Mama Milling — Monte Vista
Also owned by the Gosar family, Mountain Mama Milling has been growing wheat in the San Luis Valley since 1963. In 1978, the family expanded its operation to include a small-scale stone mill, producing superior freshly milled flours for artisan bakers and community food programs.
OCE purchases organic Yecora Rojo, a premium heritage hard red spring wheat from Mexico known for its nutty, malty flavor and robust gluten structure, as well as organic Wrens Abruzzi Rye, a beautiful green-gold grain with rich, aromatic notes of spice, mineral, and sweet cream.
These grains are key ingredients in OCE’s Bread Program, which produces hundreds of loaves of fresh-baked bread each week for pantry patrons. To date, OCE has purchased more than 60 fifty-pound bags of grain and flour from Mountain Mama Milling.
100% Volunteer-Run, 100% Community-Funded Our Community Eats is a fully volunteer-run organization with no administrative costs. Every aspect of operations—from accounting and grant writing to stocking shelves and managing deliveries—is handled entirely by volunteers. Even utilities, internet, and security are covered by a dedicated donor, ensuring that 100% of all donations and grant funds go directly toward food purchases.
According to Katherine Solbert, OCE Executive Director, “When someone donates to OCE, they are not only feeding their neighbors—they are strengthening our entire regional food system. “By purchasing directly from local farmers and ranchers, we help keep these producers sustainable and resilient for the future.”
As the world continues to change, the importance of strong local food systems has never been greater. Through the dedication of our volunteers, the generosity of our donors, and our partnerships with regional growers and ranchers, OCE is working to ensure that fresh, nutritious, and locally produced food remains accessible to everyone in our community.
Photo: Beet Street Organic Farm, Durango, CO.
