Ela Family Farms

Our certified organic orchard in Hotchkiss stands as the first 100% organic, fourth-generation farm in the Rocky Mountain West. We cultivate over 55 varieties of tree fruit across our 98.6 acres, including 14 peach and 34 apple varieties, alongside pears, plums, cherries, organic grapes, and heirloom tomatoes. Our commitment to sustainability is woven into every harvest: we generate 80% of our electricity from on-site PV solar panels, utilize gravity-powered drip irrigation, and maintain a zero-food-waste model where even imperfect fruit finds its way to our commercial kitchen or local pig farmers. This season, despite a April 17 freeze that impacted our fresh tree fruit crop, we continue to serve our community through farmers' markets with an abundance of apple and pear sauce, fruit butters, dried and freeze-dried fruits, and artisanal jams. Our heirloom tomatoes, planted after the freeze, thrive in our soil-enriched rows, offering a testament to our resilient, carbon-neutral practices. We invite you to taste the difference of fruit grown with minimal off-farm inputs and a deep respect for the land.