In 2020, there was a 6.8 percent increase in residential land sales, which the Realtors Land Institute and National Association of Realtors consider to be “underpinned by strong home-buying activity.” This coincided with an uptick in farmland real estate value by 7 percent across the country between June 2020 and June 2021, according to a survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

On Sunday, Boulder-based Farm Eats Direct (FED) food truck and Moxie Bread Company in Louisville worked together to offer food to those who are displaced. FED offered frittata, grilled cheese, soup and other warm meals to those in need. Moxie provided bread, which was prepped the day the fire broke out. The bakery also offered coffee, nuts, and lasagna, and planned to make pizzas to hand out.

> Punch Buggy, 'Colorado's only all-natural authentic Hawaiian-style shave ice shop and truck,' brings island flavors to Lafayette through owner Neige LaRue, who was raised in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Operating from a shiny silver Airstream at The Yard in Old Town Lafayette (105 S Public Rd), Punch Buggy distinguishes itself by making syrups in-house using 100% pure cane sugar with no artificial colors or flavors, staying true to authentic Hawaiian traditions. The menu offers unique tropical flavors including POG (passion orange guava), lychee, guava, and red bean, complemented by island-inspired toppings like mochi balls and ube whipped cream that transport customers straight to the Hawaiian islands. Beyond the Lafayette location, Punch Buggy operates a food truck that travels to various Boulder County events, spreading aloha throughout the community. LaRue's commitment to authenticity—from the all-natural ingredients to the traditional Hawaiian preparation methods—has made Punch Buggy a beloved destination for those seeking genuine island-style shave ice, bringing a taste of Hawaii's beaches and warm hospitality to Colorado's Front Range.

> Co-owners Genae Lako and Doug Wargo opened Public Wine at 100 S Public Road to offer Lafayette a curated selection of boutique wines, beer, and spirits with a focus on natural wine, organic wine, European selections, and unique offerings from the West Coast and beyond. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, the shop specializes in Old World selections with more than 50 wine labels under $20 and the majority of wines under $80, making quality wines accessible to all enthusiasts. What sets Public Wine apart is their commitment to community education and connection: they host FREE in-store wine tastings every Thursday from 4-6 PM, allowing customers to discover new favorites, and offer a quarterly wine club where members receive six bottles every quarter for $150, complete with detailed information about each wine and food pairing suggestions. This boutique bottle shop has become a Lafayette destination for wine lovers seeking natural, organic, and carefully selected wines from around the world, with owners dedicated to sharing their passion for wine through tastings, education, and personalized service.

To those living on the periphery of the food and the farming world, winter’s toll on the land may seem like an opportunity for producers to take a long nap and rest before the ground thaws and it’s time to grow again. The truth? It’s anything but that.

Finding ancient, heritage, or landrace grains and flours is no easy task if you are trying to source them as locally as possible. The goal of this section of Daily Grains is to start sharing the grains we come across during our Grain Chain research. We recognize this is ambitious and the data will sometimes be outdated, but we're going to give it a shot. 

The University of Minnesota, in collaboration with a multi-state coalition of researchers, farmers, educators, industry leaders, policy experts, and climate scientists, was awarded a highly competitive 5 year, $10 million grant through USDA. This grant, called a Coordinated Agricultural Project - or CAP - aims to scale the research, production, awareness and commercialization of Kernza, the first perennial grain available for commercial production in the United States.

Supply chain disruptions steadily increased this year and with each new hiccup, a new sector of food production or distribution has been impacted. Though each of these supply issues happens on their own scale, it’s clear they’re connected. That cargo ship stuck off the coast of Los Angeles is part of the reason your peanut butter is more expensive. Pull on a single loose thread and you can unravel the whole supply system.