Colorado Proud is honoring local products throughout August

By Jessica Chapman Mon., Aug. 9 2010 at 5:40 PM

Categories: The Dish

A Flickr photo

August = plums!

What do Fruition, SAME Cafe, Taco House and Waffle Brothers have in common? According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, all are "committed to supporting Colorado agriculture and using the best products Colorado offers."

The state agency includes these and nearly 30 pages of other restaurants statewide -- there are 150 total -- that prioritize serving Colorado products in its 2010 Colorado Proud Restaurant Guide.

Any restaurant that is a Colorado Proud member and serves Colorado products is eligible to be on the list. Membership with the Colorado Proud program is voluntary and free of charge.

August is officially Colorado Proud Month, a time when the state puffs up its chest extra large in honor of all its locally grown products, and this year marks the eleventh anniversary of the program, which now features the participation of more than 1,000 Colorado companies.

Look for the purple and yellow mountain and sun logo at local grocery stores and markets, as well as restaurants, to indicate the presence of and commitment to Colorado products.

The agency also has a website where you can look up businesses in your area that offer local products and a crop calendar that tells you when different products are in season.

It's no wonder August was selected to feature Colorado products. This month, for example, look for cantaloupe, bell peppers, pears, squash, raspberries, peaches, carrots, cauliflower and others to be on sale and in abundance.