Regional, state and international leaders gathered amid Palisade peach orchards Saturday, Aug. 15, for a behind-the-scenes tour of Grand Valley agriculture and a conversation about the value of and ability to expand the region’s varying economic industries.
Attendees ranged from first-time visitors, including Canadian and Taiwanese delegates and Front Range state representatives, to familiar faces, such as House District 55 Rep. Rick Taggart and Mesa County Commissioner JJ Fletcher.
“The international relationship does not just happen in Washington; it also happens in the state and the Palisade community here,” said Debby Huang, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver.
“I so cherish this (opportunity) to see what’s happening here and (enjoy) the best peaches I can have,” she added. “And I hope in the future my fellows in Taiwan can taste the Palisade peaches as well …”
Outgoing House District 54 Rep. Matt Soper (R-Delta) coordinated the agricultural education tour, which he said stemmed from a partnership with the Palisade Chamber of Commerce roughly four years ago to provide influential figures with insight into the region, its economic strengths and how to nourish those sectors.
“We obviously work with the state government, so that’s why we have the lieutenant governor, who was acting governor, here today; then, the consul generals of Taiwan and Canada because they are top trading partners (for western Colorado),” Soper said.
According to him, Taiwan is a major purchaser of Colorado beef, and the country signed a memorandum of understanding in 2019 to further boost beef exports.
Canada, on the other hand, provides and manufactures various imports tied to western Colorado business, such as oil and gas implements.
Additional attendees were:
■ Colorado Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera.
■ State Representatives Jennifer Bacon (D-Denver), Anthony Hartsook (R-Parker), Cecilia Espenoza (D-Denver) and Lori Garcia Sander (R-Eaton).
■ Canada Consul General for the U.S. Mountain West Sarah Quigley.
■ Executive leadership from the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Colorado Tourism Office.
■ U.S. House District 3 Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Grand Junction).
■ Business Incubator Center CEO Dalida Bolig.
■ Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE) Executive Director Cassidee Shull.
“And, (this exposes) Front Range legislators to our style of agriculture because it is so much different than the Front Range,” Soper added. “And for some of them, they had actually never been to the Western Slope.”
The tour comprised several stops, including one of North America’s first two agrivoltaic plants — permanent solar panel installations co-mingled with agricultural fields — at Talbott Farms, 3801 F¼ Road.
That infrastructure, as well as the Colorado State University Western Colorado Research Center, 3170 B½ Road, was made possible by state legislation passed in 2023.
Additional stops included the East Orchard Mesa Irrigation District and its pump house (roughly one mile south of Palisade), as well as a look at the Colorado River flows. Soper said the river was of special interest to state legislators concerned about the future of river water levels and rights.
Another notable stop was Peachfork Orchards & Vineyards, 281 33 Road, where attendees received a farm-to-table lunch and learned from local industry leaders, who spoke about the importance of their work, opportunities for mutually beneficial growth and challenges they have faced.
“It’s important to note for the legislators who are here: please feel free to reach out to ag producers,” local rancher Janie VanWinkle said. “When you’re voting on something that is important to ag, talk to ag. That’s my ask of you. Talk to us, whether we’re peach producers, row crop farmers or livestock caretakers. Ask us the hard questions. We’re more than happy to help you with those answers.”
“We want to … continue to serve the growing population here, and the growing visitation,” Grand Junction Regional Airport Chief Executive Officer Angela Padalecki said. “The economic impact that I described — close to $820 million annually — that is direct. That does not take into account all those businesses that couldn’t operate here in the current form if not for an airport with the type of commercial service we have, so we know everyone’s counting on us for that.”
The day proceeded with tours of agricultural properties including the orchards at Peachfork, shortly before attendees began their return to the Front Range.
“It was so great to show off this well-kept secret of Palisade,” District 7 Sen. Janice Rich (R-Grand Junction) said.
Soper added that he looks forward to planning similar recurring opportunities in the future.
“I’d say this has been an incredible success,” he said. “It gets people in leadership positions thinking … and I believe we owe it to the people of western Colorado to continue to represent.”