Grant Family Farms declares Chapter 7 bankruptcy

From the farm:

Despite all best efforts to the contrary, and along with many other organic farmers in the United States, Grant Family Farms northwest of Wellington has been struggling financially over the last several years. Ineligibility for crop insurance coupled with millions of dollars in damage from hail storms and drought – not to mention a massive spinach recall, has left the farm in a financial situation that it’s been unable to overcome. As a result, on Dec. 28, Grant Family Farms declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

First and foremost, Grant Family Farms wants to thank the community for their support and loyalty to the farm throughout the years. With this gracious understanding, the Farm would like to take this opportunity to be as open and honest as possible with the community about the current situation.

Grant Family Farms is confident that some things are worth saving – and believes that this community supported farm is one of them. The Farm is working hard and is hopeful that it will emerge from this disappointing situation better than it went in.

Grant Family Farms has been farming in Colorado for 61 years. It was, proudly, the first Certified Organic Farm in the state – in addition to being instrumental with helping Colorado create the process of organic certification and developing the laws that emerged as a result. Throughout its history, Grant Farms has developed an effective local food system with grains, animals, and veggies – on a community supported and wholesale level alike – in addition to building the largest CSA in the nation. The Farm recognizes these distinctions as being a direct result of the amazing support it’s received, and continues to receive, from this amazing community – and it is eternally grateful to the community for that.

In many ways, the Farm has continued to improve and, most certainly, continues to be committed to the CSA community – the life and breath of this farm. The Farm truly hopes that it can count on the community’s continued support and generous patience and it makes this transition towards the future.

At this time, Grant Family Farms is hesitant to offer any specifics with regard to tomorrow. It can say that beyond Chapter 7, nothing is set in stone – and it is important to the Farm that it doesn’t churn the cogs in the rumor mill. But, please know that the Farm’s CSA members and community will be the first to know when there is any additional information to share. The Farm is as hungry for conclusions as the community is for answers – and it will continue to keep information posted in the timeliest manner possible. The Farm anticipates speculation from a variety of sources, but wants the community to know that this is the voice of the Grant Family, the Farm, and the CSA team.

Once again, Grant Family Farms wants to extend a gracious thank you to the community for its continued support, understanding, and patience as it traverses this most difficult path. While the Farm looks forward with hope to what the future might bring – it does so with the anticipation that our community and our amazing CSA family, will be there with us.