A Forklift Speeds Up Harvest Season in Cortez | LOR Foundation Skip to content
Complete Environment

A Forklift Speeds Up Harvest Season in Cortez

Cortez
  • Local Champion: Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project
  • Date Funded: November 14, 2025
  • Grant Amount: $26,000

More than 100 Cortez-area farmers and backyard growers bring their apples to the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project for juicing, but many struggle to unload their heavy fruit bins safely. After seeing the hazardous and lengthy process—which can take up to three hours per delivery—one of the project’s leader came up with a solution. LOR’s funding helped the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project purchase a forklift to unload fruit deliveries. The new equipment will allow growers to return to their harvests more quickly and safely, increasing participation in the program and creating a more sustainable economy for local apple producers.

This project is fiscally sponsored by Onward! A Legacy Foundation.

Contact our community officer in Cortez. Meet Nicci Crowley
More Environment Solutions
Environment / Cortez Tools Equip Cortez Volunteers for Land Stewardship
Local Champion:
Montelores Coalition
Date funded:
August 17, 2026
Grant Amount:
$3,860
Environment / Taos Firewood Removal Reduces Wildfire Risk and Supports Taos County Households
Local Champion:
Friends of Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
Date funded:
August 14, 2026
Grant Amount:
$9,750
Environment / Questa Library Landscaping Improves Entrance Safety for Questa Residents
Local Champion:
Friends of the Questa Public Library
Date funded:
August 7, 2026
Grant Amount:
$9,994
Environment / Weiser Concrete Pads Give Weiser Dog Park Visitors a Clean, Safe Place to Sit
Local Champion:
Weiser River Animal Shelter & Rescue
Date funded:
August 5, 2026
Grant Amount:
$1,800
Environment / Monte Vista Updated Equipment Expands Youth Mountain Biking Access in Monte Vista
Local Champion:
San Luis Valley Cycling
Date funded:
July 22, 2026
Grant Amount:
$7,534
Environment / Cortez An Outdoor Leadership Career Pathway Opens Doors (and Trails) for Cortez High Schoolers
Local Champion:
Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1
Date funded:
July 17, 2026
Grant Amount:
$25,000
See All solutions

Share an Idea

If you have an idea for improving quality of life in Cortez or Monte Vista, Colorado; Lander, Wyoming; Libby, Montana; Questa or Taos, New Mexico; or Weiser, Idaho, use this form to start a conversation with us.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.