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Producer

Knapp's Farm Market
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About Us

Rocky Ford, Colorado, the home of Knapp Farms, is known as the “Sweet Melon Capital of the World.” There is much that goes into the success of the agriculture here. It is not just a variety of crops and produce; it’s the love for farming, family, and community.

Brian and Gail Knapp opened their first farm market within the city limits of Rocky Ford in 1982.  A year later the market was relocated to be near the farm at the intersection of Highways 50 & 71.  The family’s old adobe onion shed was transformed to Knapp’s Farm Market, where it stands today.  The market has undergone many changes and expansions, but as a team, Brian and Gail have grown their business with hard work, industry knowledge, and by using best practices in agriculture, water conservation and technology.  Brian eventually got his wish for a green house and each year many transplants are started in them, to get an early start for the growing season. The greenhouses have become a family affair with many of their children’s spring breaks having been spent planting in the green houses in their younger years.  Now Gail and their daughter Alisha perform the daily watering and oversight of the greenhouse while Brian and Nathan oversee the planting.  Today the market is a busy, thriving establishment with colorful flags luring travelers near and far to stop in. 

John, Brian’s brother, retired from a career with the NRCS and is now the farms lead agronomist, tractor driver and “John of all Trades.”  Additionally, Brian and Gail continue to pass their love of farming on to the next generations.  Their four children have grown up working in every aspect of the family business; from planting and irrigating to harvesting and marketing.  They all have stories of their childhood on the farm; riding four wheelers, shucking corn, and checking water to name a few.  Two of their children, Alisha and Nathan, work for the business full time. Their other two children, Nick and Melanie, are involved in a part time capacity, while working full time jobs in the agriculture industry.  Together, the family continues the tradition of quality farming and continue to evolve their agricultural and food safety practices to remain on the cutting edge.  

Practices

The business is nonstop for the family once the season starts. While the greenhouses start in March, and planting late April and May, harvest season is a bit later. The market is open 7 days a week from the start of the season and is open daily until close, typically July-October, annually. The “Marketeers,” our team of educated and helpful market staff, ensure shelves are well stocked with the high quality, fresh picked produce; watermelons, cantaloupe, and other fruits and vegetables. Nathan, along with other staff can be found coming and going on tractors unloading field fresh produce for the market and loading semi-trailers of produce to send to markets and stores across the state and beyond. Daughters Melanie and Alisha are found helping customers, thumping melons for the unfarmed and keeping the smell of roasted chilies and fresh melons throughout the entire area. Sixth generation, family members are learning the family business and carrying on the tradition. Kennedy Knapp, Nate’s daughter, can be found shucking sweet corn and educating customers on how to pick the sweetest melon. While thelittlest ones in the bunch, Brecken, Aubrey, Brynley, Case, and Gus are enjoying their tastes of the families’ famous melons or their favorite tomatoes and learning all the fun of playing in the dirt! Other family members are always part of the tradition; from both grandmothers, to the in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Various family members can be found helping out, for a day or a season. This nonstop business takes a village to be successful.

Knapp’s Farm Market is a place where friends and customers become family.  Customers plan their vacation and family canning events around picking up produce at Knapp’s.  Annual customers have often started conversations with; “I remember when you were in a play pen in the back,” “We’ve been coming here since I was a child,” “Are you still in College,” or “Where is your mother?” Knapp’s Farm Market is a generational experience for our family as well as our guests. It is built not only on our produce, but on memories and relationships with those we come into contact with.  Past generations would be proud of their legacy which has led to not only some of the best produce grown in the Arkansas Valley, but a family experience.