Ela Family Farms

Established in 1907, this fourth-generation family farm has been cultivating fruit on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains for over a century. Known for its dedication to flavor and environmental stewardship, the farm has grown to include over 55 varieties of organic tree fruits and heirloom tomatoes. The land is conserved in perpetuity, ensuring it remains agricultural and open green space.

The farm employs a variety of sustainable practices, including growing nitrogen-fixing legumes to build healthy soils and using biological pest management methods. Solar panels provide 85-90% of their electricity needs, and their irrigation system is highly water-conserving, utilizing drip and micro-sprinklers powered almost entirely by gravity. The farm is close to carbon-neutral and minimizes off-farm inputs by growing cover crops that add nutrients to the soil and improve water retention. They also practice zero food waste by using all harvested fruit, even damaged ones, in their commercial kitchen or providing them to a local pig farmer.

The farm processes its fruit into organic jams, fruit butter, apple sauce, dried fruit, and cider, selling only what they grow. They have developed a loyal clientele at farmers markets and are deeply involved in community development and organic research. Steve Ela, the operations manager, is active in promoting the Colorado fruit industry and serves on several national and local boards related to organics and agriculture. The farm also hosts numerous organic research projects conducted by Colorado State University.