"People have a funny idea about frozen food," admits Kelly Crobu, who owns Casa Crobu with her husband, Mario. "But if you freeze something good, it's still good."

Pontus Jakobson, beekeeper and co-owner of Björns Colorado Honey, has been working with bees since he was a child in Sweden. Drawing on years of hands-on experience and combining it with Lara's background in business and marketing, the two quickly formed a well-balanced team.

Steve and Michelle Cockroft, owners of Croft Family Farm, embody a bit of all of these motivations—plus a twist of their own. That commitment to care still runs deep more than 20 years after they began their farming journey.

By tapping into the ritualistic flavors of fire and smoke, chefs Alejandro and Alberto Rodriguez are diversifying Mexican cuisine in Colorado.

At the heart of her business, Cultura Craft Chocolate, is the preservation of chocolate 'like abuelita's' mixed with sustainable and ethical practice in every step of the process.

Mountain Girl Pickles is a Boulder-based artisan pickle company that produces hand-crafted pickled vegetables using locally sourced produce, including pickled okra, green beans, garlic dills, corn relish, and asparagus.

Moon Raccoon Baking Company is a woman- and queer-owned bakery that produces creative pastries and baked goods including rye chocolate chip cookies, cruffins, Kouign-amann and sausage rolls.

Forte Fruits sells fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables sourced from a Western Slope farm in Palisade, participating in approximately 15 different farmers markets throughout the region.

Croft Family Farm in Kersey, Colorado grows vegetables, heirloom tomatoes in greenhouses, and approximately 700 egg-laying chickens, operating without pesticides or GMO seeds.

Haykin Family Cider is an Aurora-based cidery that produces single-varietal ciders using heirloom apple varieties sourced from organic orchards, made with more bubbles, no sugars and no added flavorings.