Ranch Foods Direct owner Mike Callicrate and RFD plant manager and head butcher Kyle Mauro have been invited to give a presentation January 10th at the Western Colorado Food and Farm Forum in Montrose. The title of their talk is “From Pasture to Plate.” They will describe how to integrate livestock production with small scale local processing to produce a high quality product and create a successful independently owned and operated food business. Their experience with developing a mobile processing unit is sure to be of considerable interest.
Planned around the theme, “Unlocking the Secrets of Raising Great Food,” the event is designed for local food producers, organic farmers, restaurateurs and related businesses who want to gather and share information and resources on how to contribute to the viability and success of western Colorado agriculture. It represents a collaboration of several organizations including the Valley Food Partnership, CSU Tri-River Area Extension Service, the City of Montrose Office of Business and Tourism, the Shavano Conservation District and the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Cooperative and Economic Development Center.
Mike Callicrate speaks frequently to diverse audiences on food and agricultural issues. Kyle Mauro is the fourth generation of his family to raise quality show pigs and sell farm-raised meats in the Arkansas Valley near Pueblo. They will be joined by nearly two dozen other speakers addressing many critical topics including seed saving, natural resource management, marketing, agritourism, vegetable production, local food systems and much more.
