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DENVER -- The 2014 Governor's Forum on Colorado Agriculture, held yesterday in Denver, provided an exploration of consumer preferences with live focus groups and insights into international trade trends.

The Forum, an annual event highlighting trends in Colorado agriculture, was themed "Farm to Table: What do Consumers Really Want?"  That theme took various forms, including perspectives from Governor John Hickenlooper and Commissioner of Agriculture John Salazar on the driving forces of agriculture in the state, as well as insights into the minds of Colorado consumers from Colorado State University economic experts.

"Colorado's producers have proven themselves to be resilient and innovative, while continuing to meet the world's needs for food, fiber and energy," said Hickenlooper in a letter inviting the public to the Forum. "We have continued to see new growth in the agricultural sector via new patent applications, as well as increases in natural and organic goods production, giving Colorado's consumers more choice."

There are more than 36,000 farms in the state encompassing some 31 million acres. Agriculture continues to be a driving economic force, providing 170,000 jobs and contributing more than $40 billion to the state’s economy annually.

Over the years, Colorado producers have diversified to grow grapes, sunflowers, oats, mushrooms, fish, bison, ostrich, emu and more to fill the wants and needs of consumers, yet the more traditional commodities such as cattle, corn, dairy products, wheat and hay continue to lead product sales.

As diet trends come and go, Colorado’s farmers and ranchers adjust accordingly and fill our grocery stores with top-quality fruit, meat and vegetables.

So what do Colorado consumers really want? Variety? Quality? Organic? GMO-free? All of the above?


These are the questions that this year’s Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture this week is aiming to address. The Feb. 27 forum at the Renaissance Hotel in Denver is geared to help connect producers and consumers to initiate ongoing dialogue about Coloradans’ food preferences. View full article...