Colorado has a long history of agriculture dating back to 1880. While ranching was initially dominant, horticulture has grown to account for 11% of agricultural sales by 1930. The horticulture industry in Colorado includes multi-site operations with Dutch heritage, single site farms and gardens, and networks and cooperatives. The number of farms in Colorado peaked at 62,000 in 1930 before declining and then rebounding to over 36,000 farms by 2011.

1. Colorado
A Great Place to Grow

4. 1930

8. Industry Profile
• Monoculture -
• Ranching –
• Horticulture – 11% of all
agriculture sales
• Horticulture Industry
– Multi-site – Dutch Heritage,
Welby Gardens, Tagawa
Gardens
– Single Site – Echter’s,
Youngs,Novacek, Non-profit –
Revision International,
Growhaus,
– Networks and Co-ops -
Year Number of Farms
1880 2,000
1900 16,000
1930 62,000
1950 47,000
1970 30,500
1990 26,500
2001 30,900
2011 36,100

9. References
• http://milehighconnects.org/equity-atlas.html
• http://pubs.usgs.gov/imap/i-2760/i-2760pam.pdf
• http://lib.colostate.edu/research/agbib/search.ht
ml
• http://pubs.usgs.gov/imap/i-2760/i-
2760_sh2.pdf
• http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Co
lorado/Publications/Annual_Statistical_Bulletin/b
ulletin2011.pdf