Cortez Apple Growers Turn Waste Into A Windfall | LOR Foundation
Complete Economy

Cortez Apple Growers Turn Waste Into A Windfall

  • Local Champion: Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project
  • Date Funded: June 29, 2022
  • Grant Amount: $29,000

Montezuma County’s heritage apple orchards produce millions of pounds of fruit each year, but nearly 128,000 pounds of fruit are wasted because they do not meet today’s precise retail standards, reducing not only profits for the farmers but also the viability of this important economic sector. A potential solution to this challenge arose from a recent study by the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project (MORP): Unusable apples from more than 35 farms could be harvested and pressed into juice, resulting in as much as $140,000 in profit. To launch this project, MORP acquired a mobile juicer, facility, and other specialty equipment; the last hurdle to overcome was the cost of juice boxes, which has increased nearly 300 percent during the pandemic. LOR is funding the purchase 7,250 boxes to launch the program. Revenue from the sale of the juices will be used to purchase boxes in subsequent years.

This project is fiscally sponsored by Onward! A Legacy Foundation

In The News

Orchard Social Highlights Revived Apple Market in Southwest Colorado (Cortez Journal)

Harvest Your Apples for Community Juicing Day (Cortez Journal)

Contact our community officer in Cortez. Meet Nicci Crowley
More Economy Solutions
Economy / Cortez Cortez Radio Station and Theater Turns Saturday Nights Into $aturday Nights for Local Businesses
Local Champion:
KSJD Community Radio
Date funded:
August 21, 2023
Grant Amount:
$23,100
Economy / Monte Vista A New Mural Brings Vibrancy to Downtown Monte Vista
Local Champion:
Monte Vista local
Date funded:
August 18, 2023
Grant Amount:
$2,500
Economy / Cortez A Harvest Tool Lending Library Gives Cortez Growers A Little More Green
Local Champion:
Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project
Date funded:
August 11, 2023
Grant Amount:
$22,845
Economy / Libby Metal Awnings Improve Year-Round Access to Libby’s Shooting Range
Local Champion:
Lincoln County Shooting Complex c/o Lincoln County
Date funded:
August 10, 2023
Grant Amount:
$15,495
Economy / Cortez A Map Helps Cortez Locals Find Murals—And Brings Business Downtown
Local Champion:
Cortez Retail Enhancement Association
Date funded:
July 24, 2023
Grant Amount:
$1,600
Economy / Taos Taos Incentivizes Locals to Weigh in About Tourism
Local Champion:
Town of Taos
Date funded:
July 24, 2023
Grant Amount:
$2,500

Share an Idea

If you have an idea for improving quality of life in Cortez or Monte Vista, Colorado; Lander, Wyoming; Libby, Montana; or Questa or Taos, New Mexico, use this form to start a conversation with us.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.