Tag Archive for: Palisade Sunday Farmers Market

Fruita, Grand Junction, Local or Nearby Attractions, Palisade, Relocating to Grand Junction

Accolades for the Grand Valley

Accolades for Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade and the Grand Valley region of Mesa County, CO

We are lucky to live where there are many accolades for the Grand Valley, Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade and Mesa County. There are so many articles to choose from that support this, but I narrowed it down to one accolade for each community and some for Mesa County. Here are a few highlights of our amazing community starting with the most recent recognition for Grand Junction, CO.

Charming Grand Junction Downtown

Downtown Grand Junction springtime!

Grand Junction’s fabulous downtown is #8 on the 2024 “10 Best” list of Charming Downtowns from USA Today. Here’s what they had to say:

“These 10 places with charming main streets — nominated by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the U.S. — offer more than just a road; these streets are living history, have a vibrant culture, and serve as the hearts of their communities.”

We couldn’t agree more! We were very impressed with the wide and wandering sidewalks, beautiful landscape, multitude of sculptures and art as well as lively dining options, boutiques, summer Farmers Market and so much more. Downtown is easily accessible and a true gem in the Grand Valley.

Here’s how USA Today summarized downtown Grand Junction.

“Celebrated for its vibrant, no-franchise downtown, Main Street in Grand Junction, Colorado boasts trendy art galleries, farm-to-fork dining, and fashionable boutiques. As a dynamic community hub, Main Street fosters a sense of engagement, with the historic Avalon Theatre hosting various events and a variety of street festivals and markets taking place year-round. Visitors enjoy the park-like atmosphere and the unique open-air art gallery of bronze sculptures.”

Here’s the link to the full article. https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-main-street-2024/

I wrote a post about Grand Junction being #1 Best City to Move to in Colorado, so check that out too!

Fruita, CO Awarded the Colorado Downtown Excellence Award

Outdoor Dining Plaza in Fruita

Here’s the press release direct from the City of Fruita. What a great award! This plaza space is right near one of our favorite places to dine in Fruita, the Hot Tomato! Here’s the link to their full article with a great aerial photo of the Mulberry Plaza. https://www.fruita.org/citymanager/page/fruita-co-awarded-colorado-downtown-excellence-award

“On April 4, 2024, the City of Fruita was awarded the Colorado Downtown Excellence Award by Downtown Colorado Inc. (DCI) for the Mulberry Plaza and gathering space. This award celebrates excellence in Colorado downtowns and commercial districts, and the City of Fruita is excited to receive this recognition on a state-wide scale. Downtown Colorado Inc. is a non-profit, membership association committed to building better communities by providing assistance to Colorado downtowns, commercial districts, main streets, rural communities, and town centers.”

Palisade Sunday Farmers Market is a Winner

Can’t get enough peach pie – this time with strawberry rhubarb. Peach with cherry is delicious too!

Here’s another “10 Best” award from USA Today. This time it’s for the Best Farmers Market! Although Palisade’s quaint downtown is certainly worthy of praise too.

Palisade Sunday Farmers Market comes in at #7, and deservedly so. We can’t wait for the Farmers Market season in the Grand Valley and the market in Palisade is tops for several reasons! To find the best farmers markets, they asked a panel of experts for nominations. Then, their readers voted for their favorites over four weeks. Here’s what USA Today had to say…

“Palisade Sunday Farmers Market, sponsored by the town, is open from June to October. It features items from local artisans and crafters as well as local produce and wines. Be sure to check out the live music and spend some downtime on a shaded, comfortable bench nearby.”

While this sounds nice and all, it’s a bit too generic. I wonder if they have really been to Palisade Sunday Farmers Market because it’s about so much more than that. Food trucks, fresh coffee, baked goods while you shop. I’ve tasted wine and got a shot of bourbon at 10am. They don’t even mention the famous Palisade Peaches, a weekly purchase for us. You just gotta go in person. Such a lovely downtown to host the Farmers Market. And the local shops, restaurants and galleries are fantastic too!

Mesa County Libraries National Nomination

We love libraries! You can read our posts about Mesa County Libraries and how I got a Little Free Library in Las Colonias in Grand Junction, near the Colorado River and Butterfly Pond.

Libraries do great work, and we are excited about this nomination. We will check back to see if they won! National Medal winners will be announced in late May 2024. Here’s what they posted on the Mesa County Libraries website:

“The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced on March 27, 2024, that Mesa County Libraries is among 30 finalists for the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Mesa County Libraries is the only institution in Colorado to be selected as a finalist for this award. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate significant impact in their communities. For 30 years, the award has honored institutions that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities.”

What an amazing honor to be nominated! We are so proud of our local library system. Here’s the full post on the library’s website: https://mesacountylibraries.org/2024/03/mesa-county-libraries-named-finalist-for-2024-imls-national-medal-for-museum-and-library-service

Best Place to Visit for Adventure

https://www.visitgrandjunction.com/blog/post/the-36-best-places-to-visit-in-the-us-for-adventure

North Fruita Desert Tofel Family

Outside named Grand Junction as one of the “36 Best” places to visit in the US for adventure. Of course, we think it’s #1! The link above takes you to the full article. Here’s a quick summary.

“Grand Junction was honored to be mentioned as the base camp for one of Outside’s 2023 Travel Awards. The Colorado Plateau was awarded the “Public Land Winner” and Grand Junction was highlighted as the top destination for travelers hoping to explore this award-winning area. The Grand Junction area is surrounded by over 1.6 million acres of public land, so it’s no surprise that adventure travelers were encouraged to base their adventure out of Grand Junction.”

Follow the link and learn more about the whole Colorado Plateau area, it’s quite amazing. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful and diverse area. The article even calls out one of our favorites, Camp Eddy, and of course, the Colorado National Monument. A favorite place for adventure right in our backyard! Read our Mountain Biking post too!

Speaking of adventure…the Outdoor Program (OP) at Colorado Mesa University is one of the reasons our daughter chose to attend this fantastic university. They were at the college fair at her high school in Minnesota and we are forever grateful to have discovered this amazing human scale university, as they like to be called. So, I will end with this one amazing accolade for Colorado Mesa University, though there are many things to be proud of when it comes to CMU.

Colorado Mesa University

Zion CMU Outdoor Program Trip

U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges ranks colleges and universities by several different factors and creates many “best of” lists. They have ranked Colorado Mesa University #5 in Top Public Schools and #20 in Regional Colleges West. Their website describes in detail how their rankings are calculated, data sources, eligibility, and the criteria they used.

The article does a great job of highlighting CMU in a way that allows readers to easily compare colleges and universities on things like admissions, cost, academic programs, and campus life. Read More. It’s important to know what the student wants in a college.

CMU is an accredited university that has so much to be proud of. They have amazing academic programs for students of all ages. Their vision: “CMU aspires to be a Human Scale University that serves as a model of the world we want to create —a world where people aspire to love, extend dignity, choose courage, demonstrate humility, develop resiliency, celebrate curiosity, and use power for good.”

Zion Canyoneering CMU Outdoor Program Trip

Their Outdoor Program is outstanding. It’s a way for students to enjoy the weekends and time off outside the classroom. Students can participate in outdoor recreation, take group trips and rent equipment at super low rates. Our daughter climbed her first 14er in the first month of her freshman year! And a memorable group to Zion National Park to learn canyoneering. She has amazing stories and memories.

I encourage you to look at the CMU website first and absorb as much as you can. Then, you have to do a tour in person to fully grasp the welcoming culture at CMU. My daughter got to do an extended “CMU Experience” in 2018 before she decided for sure to attend. Although we knew her mind was made up before she attended this extended tour experience. She just wanted another trip to Colorado! We get it. We fell in love with the area too! That’s why we moved here. Let me give you a quick tour of the campus even if you don’t have students attending college. It’s an amazing asset for the Grand Valley!

Move to Grand Junction. We’ve been waiting for you!

Text/Call 612-306-9558

PAUL ASPELIN, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE
Serving Mesa County
Licensed in Colorado

Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email.
Learn more about my experience and how I serve my clients

by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

Palisade, Property Taxes and Land Ownership

Vineyard and Orchard Properties in Palisade CO

Let’s Talk Palisade!

Orchard Properties in Palisade CO Palisade Sunday Farmers Market

I absolutely love attending the Palisade Sunday Farmers Market

Are you looking for a orchard properties in Palisade CO or maybe a vineyard in East Orchard Mesa? Dreaming of owning a few acres or a larger property? Start your inquiry here! In Palisade, “It’s all about the experience”. There’s so much to enjoy!

Palisade, Colorado is a stunning community within the Grand Valley on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. It is an ideal environment for several varieties of orchard and vineyard cultivation. Palisade is known as the “Peach Capital of Colorado” because of its fertile soil and favorable climate for fruit-bearing trees. Palisade Peaches are some of the sweetest, juiciest peaches you will ever taste! It’s a prominent wine-producing region in Colorado, known for its vineyards and wineries specializing in a variety of grapes, including Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Riesling. These attributes extend into East Orchard Mesa, CO too.

Because we get an average of 300 sunny days per year, along with low humidity, Palisade has optimal conditions for orchard farming, ensuring robust growth and high-quality fruit production. The canyon of the Colorado River that enters Palisade from the east is De Beque Canyon. It is a scenic stretch of the Colorado River characterized by towering cliffs and rugged terrain, providing a picturesque backdrop to the town of Palisade and the entrance of the Grand Valley from the east. The unique microclimate created when the air blows in from the canyon is amazing for growers in this region.

Palisade Geography

Geography is important. Palisade is at the base of the Grand Mesa and the Book Cliff mountains. They provide protection from harsh weather conditions, such as late spring frosts, which can be detrimental to fruit crops. Additionally, the Colorado River runs through here and provides ample irrigation for orchards and vineyards, ensuring consistent water supply for optimal growth.

If you’d like to own a vineyard or orchard properties in Palisade CO, big or small, it’s essential to assess the soil quality, as different fruit varieties thrive in different soil types. Palisade and East Orchard Mesa’s diverse soil compositions, ranging from sandy loam to clay, offer opportunities for cultivating various fruits, including peaches, cherries, apples, plums, apricots, and grapes, lots of grapes!

Population and Property Locations

While Palisade is a small community with a population under 3,000, it has many amenities such as local markets, shops, dining, and agricultural resources. Plus, the famous Palisade Sunday Farmers Market during growing season! And it’s just minutes from larger Grand Junction and all it has to offer.

Depending on where a property is located in Palisade may demand a higher value. Properties are located close to the Colorado River, in downtown Palisade and some within eyesight from I-70. Many of them are along the famous scenic Palisade Fruit and Wine Byway that runs from Palisade into East Orchard Mesa and Grand Junction. I have a map of the byway on my Move to Palisade post.

Property owners will appreciate Palisade’s well-maintained infrastructure, such as irrigation systems and storage facilities, which can streamline operations and increase a property’s appeal. Engaging with the local Palisade grower community and seeking guidance from experienced orchardists or vintners can provide valuable insights into the intricacies of orchard and vineyard management in Palisade. By conducting thorough research and working closely with a knowledgeable Realtor® team, you can identify a property that aligns with your goals and maximizes your investment in Palisade’s thriving orchard and vineyard industry. There are over 25 vineyards in Palisade, let me take you on a wine tasting tour! And remember, not every property for sale is listed on the MLS or found online. I work with a team of real estate professionals and I often know of properties coming up on the MLS well in advance of them being marketing online.

Vibrant Community

If you want to research more about Palisade or East Orchard Mesa for orchard properties, I recommend you hop on Facebook, if you use that platform. There are many business pages, community pages, civic pages and lots of Groups that focus on Palisade and the community it serves. There are many events published and opportunities for engagement throughout the year. I mention more about this on my Move to Palisade post. Strong communities have strong identities. Palisade fits that bill. The community leaders in Palisade focus on balance between community (residents and businesses) and tourism (guests), with the community being their number one priority. There are over 3,000 hotel rooms in the Grand Valley and over 270 vacation home rentals available. Come visit! VisitPalisade.com for things to do, getting around, places to stay, wineries to visit and food to eat.

Resources for Palisade Growers

Understanding local regulations and zoning laws related to orchard farming is crucial for ensuring compliance and avoiding common pitfalls of orchard or vineyard ownership. If you want to purchase a large or small vineyard or orchard in Palisade, Colorado, it’s essential to engage with various local organizations and authorities to ensure a smooth transition and compliance with relevant regulations. Here are some key entities to contact:

Town of Palisade: Start by reaching out to the town of Palisade government office. They can provide information on zoning regulations, land use permits, and any ordinances specific to agricultural properties.
Mesa County Planning Department: Mesa County oversees land use planning and development regulations in the region. Contacting the planning department can help you understand zoning requirements, property taxes, and any proposed developments that may impact your orchard or vineyard.
Palisade Chamber of Commerce: The very active Palisade Chamber of Commerce can offer insights into our local business community, networking opportunities with other property owners, and information on economic development initiatives in Palisade. Plus, a variety of events and opportunities for business owners and the community. Again, can’t say enough good things about the Palisade Sunday Farmers Market, yum!
Colorado State University Extension Office – Mesa County: The Extension Office provides agricultural resources, educational programs, and assistance to farmers and orchardists in Mesa, Delta, Montrose and Ouray Counties. They can offer guidance on soil testing, crop management practices, pest control, and other agricultural concerns specific to the Palisade area or Mesa County in general.
Colorado Department of Agriculture: As the state agency responsible for promoting and regulating agriculture, the Colorado Department of Agriculture can provide information on state-level regulations, agricultural grants or programs, and certification requirements for certain crops.
Water Authorities: Since water rights are crucial for orchard irrigation, it’s important to understand the water rights associated with the property. Contact the Palisade Irrigation District to learn about water availability, rights, and any associated fees or regulations.
Colorado Agritourism: What is agritourism? Agritourism covers a wide variety of recreational, educational and other leisure activities and services, provided by farmers and ranchers and experienced by consumers who value the activity or service they receive and seek it out. Agritourism may be defined as activities, events and services related to agriculture that take place on or off the farm or ranch, and that connect consumers with the heritage, natural resource or culinary experience they value. There are three general classifications of agritourism activities: on-farm/ranch, food-based, and heritage activities. Learn more at Colorado.gov.

By engaging with these local organizations and authorities, you can gain valuable insights, navigate regulatory requirements, and foster connections within the Palisade community as you embark on your orchard or vineyard buying journey.

Learn more from my post about living in Grand Junction and Fruita too!

Call me if you’d like to own an orchard or vineyard property in Mesa County, big or small! Allow me to bring years of experience in the search for just the right property.

PAUL ASPELIN, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE
About Paul Aspelin
Text/Call me with your questions 612-306-9558

Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email.

by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR