Over the past year we have been working very hard with our staff and partners at Daily Grains to launch our new website! Our new platform makes it easier than ever to engage directly with the vibrant Colorado Grain Chain community. Your passion for grains just found an elevated digital home! 

Lafayette Florist relocated to 3335 Arapahoe Road in Erie, opening on January 18, 2024, after being in business since 1949. Kumiko and Yasutaro Yoshihara were released from a Japanese relocation camp after World War II and bought 2.5 acres of land on Public Road in Lafayette in 1949. They started by selling vegetables from a small stand while farming the land, then gradually expanded into selling flowers, bedding plants, and garden supplies. The passion of this family has been passed down for four generations. Brian Wheat, who married Lori Yoshihara (the Yoshiharas' granddaughter), has managed operations since the 1980s. Alongside Lori's sister Sandi Yoshihara-Sniff, they represent the third generation running the business. Their son Tanner Wheat serves as manager and represents the fourth generation. Brian Wheat explained the decision: I didn't want to be carrying Sheep and Peat (manure) when I was in my 70s and 80s. The family needed to secure retirement while preserving the business for future generations. Wheat emphasized: I really looked hard for other locations in Lafayette, that's what I want people to know. Despite relocating, the business retains Lafayette Florist as its name. The new Erie location sits less than a mile from Lafayette's city limits and approximately 2 miles from the original Public Road property. The new location operates without greenhouses or a full garden center, focusing instead on indoor gardening supplies and fresh flowers.

The CGC plays a role in fostering a connected community of farmers and ranchers with stakeholders such as sellers, brewers, distillers and bakers, creating a network that enhances the organic grain economy.

Moffitt commended the CGC and other recipients for contributing to the resurgence of interest in local and regional food systems, strengthening markets for producers, and ultimately revitalizing rural communities.

The chef behind Sforno Trattoria Romana on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall and Caprese Trattoria in Longmont hopes to open an authentic Roman trattoria in Lafayette soon after Valentine’s Day in a space that for many years was home to a popular Chinese restaurant.

Dr. Jacinta Yeung-Olson owns and operates Peek to Peak Vision & Boutique in Old Town Lafayette. She and her husband, both optometrists, left a Boulder clinic that was acquired by private equity to pursue their original mission: delivering personalized, relationship-driven care. Dr. Yeung emphasizes that vision extends beyond simple eyesight clarity. As she explains: Your vision is how you experience the world. It's worth protecting. Her practice centers on how eyes and brain coordinate to support daily functioning—a concept known as functional vision. The practice distinguishes itself by addressing vision comprehensively. Beyond standard prescriptions, Dr. Yeung investigates underlying causes of visual complaints. One case involved a middle schooler with apparent distance vision problems; investigation revealed a recent concussion affecting his visual processing. Once the root issue was addressed, his vision improved. The clinic emphasizes pediatric care, recommending first exams between 6-12 months and annual appointments starting at age three. Early detection can identify coordination or focusing issues before they manifest as reading difficulties or behaviors resembling ADHD. Peek to Peak offers comprehensive exams, myopia management, dry eye treatment, and educational workshops addressing kindergarten readiness, concussion recovery, and healthy aging. The boutique optical area features independent eyewear lines emphasizing personal expression alongside functional vision correction. The practice is located at 805 S Public Road, Lafayette.

"We believe in the power of food as a means to better ourselves and to form connections within our community." Biodiverse micro-farm in Arvada and Erie.

"Feelin' Fresca is a small family-owned and operated business committed to providing homemade fresh food products." Specializing in traditional Mexican aguas frescas.

> Founded by Madeline Dunhoff after working in Colorado's edibles industry and with mentorship from Love's Oven executive chef Hope Frahm, Taeko-san Takeout honors Dunhoff's Japanese immigrant grandmother Taeko through traditional recipes adapted for Colorado's high altitude. 'My mother couldn't get me to eat with anyone [else] in the family,' Dunhoff recalls about her inseparable bond with her grandmother. The business produces vegan and gluten-free mochi (with creative flavors like lemon black sesame pound cake and salted caramel Oreo), onigiri rice balls (past examples include Mexican elote and vegan Philly cheesesteak), and her grandmother's most traditional curry recipe. 'It makes me warm and happy when people truly love my curry,' Dunhoff notes, 'because it represents her grandmother's legacy on a plate.' The mochi-making process involves steaming rice, mechanical mixing, and hand-beating for approximately one hour to achieve proper glutinous texture.

The City and Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority (LURA) are partnering to envision what's next for Old Town. We’re looking at how best to preserve and enhance the eclectic and creative character of downtown.