The collaboration of Anatolian and Rovirosa farms is indicative of the greater synergism of the Southwest Colorado farming community.
Cassandra Freeman; her husband, Ekin Martli; and her little brother, Robert Freeman, make up the Anatolian Farm team. Together, they work with Randy Rovirosa of Rovirosa Farm to combine their strengths and provide more product.
The Anatolian team began growing industrial hemp in 2019, but has since expanded.
“We wanted to grow more food and be more connected to our wider community,” Cassandra Freeman said.
Rovirosa has always been into farming and gardening but, with the help of the Anatolian team, he is going to market for the first time this year.
Both farms focus on regenerative, living-soil practices to provide the best produce possible.
This weekend, the sister farms will sell crops grown at Anatolian Farm: buttercrunch lettuce, arugula, spinach, daikon radishes, Easter basket radishes, dill, parsley, cilantro, veggie starts, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, herbs, okra and CBD hemp flower.
Rovirosa grows only late-season crops like chile peppers, watermelons and sweet corn, which are being planted this week, Freeman said. In the mean time, Rovirosa helps Freeman and her family with transportation.
Rovirosa and the Anatolian team have also been transporting crops to market from Rohwer’s Farm. On May 21, Judy Rohwer was killed in a head-on crash on the way to the market. Three other members of the Rohwer’s Farm team were injured in the crash.
“When we heard about the accident, we all talked and we told Randy that since he’s a neighbor to the Rohwer’s that he should stop by and bring to market whatever he can,” Freeman said. “Because we’re all farmers and we all want to support each other. We brought watering cans to make sure their plants are well taken care of at the market.”
Anatolian and Rovirosa farms will be at the Durango Farmers Market and the Cortez Farmers Market on Saturdays. For more information, visit anatolianfarmsproduce.com.
kpercival@durangoherald.com
