For the December issue of 5280, deputy editor Lindsey Koehler spent a few days on the Western Slope in the town of Palisade reporting "Fruits Of Their Labor." The piece looks at one particularly iconic aspect of Colorado's $41 billion a year agriculture industry: Palisade peaches. Koehler's piece centers on two families—the Talbotts and the Clarks—that have long made their living farming Palisade's prized crop. As Koehler writers of the work these families have done for generations, "raising peaches is not for those with feeble constitutions; it requires the rare combination of a gambler's disposition and a strong work ethic." Here, Koehler expands a bit upon her reporting on the region that produces—and the people who care for—Colorado's most precious piece of fruit.
5280: Why write about Palisade and the iconic peaches that are grown there for the December Environment Issue?
Lindsey Koehler: When we began to concept the Environment Issue, I spent time thinking about what made Coloradans' connection to their surroundings different than residents of other states. Of course, I thought about the mountains—they are, after all, the most obvious example of our state's natural gifts—and how we are drawn to their beauty and the unparalleled recreation opportunities they offer. But as I kept researching, I learned that agriculture is one of the state's top economic drivers. I also learned that ag is one of the largest users of natural resources such as water. Knowing these things, I wanted to tell a story of our ag industry and how it is tied to the land. Being a fan of Colorado-grown peaches—and having been to Palisade for other stories—I thought immediately of the farmers in that stunning, fertile valley on the Western Slope
To read the rest of the story, please go to: 5280 The Denver Magazine