Howdy, Durango.

With the new year, The Durango Herald is taking a new approach to it’s Food & Nutrition section. The key word is “local.”

In 2017, one of our New Year’s resolutions is to reinvigorate our food coverage with more stories about the things we grow, sell, cook and eat locally. Durango and the surrounding area has a rich heritage when it comes to what we eat, and that fact deserves to be celebrated.

As part of this change in direction, I will be taking over as Durango Herald’s food editor. You may recognize me from stories and columns I’ve written for the Arts & Entertainment section over the last year.

Durango’s food is of particular importance to me. For most of my life I’ve eaten in Durango’s restaurants and shopped at its markets. I look forward to bringing you news about Durango’s farms, vineyards, markets, restaurants and breweries in addition to the recipes and national and state stories you’ve come to expect.

Durango’s food industry is obviously a large and important element of the city’s tourism-based economy. But it’s also a key part of the lives of us locals. Living in a community this size, we get to know our chefs, bartenders, servers and even our farmers on a personal level. When they move or make changes, these decisions affect our daily lives.

Naturally, and especially here, news about health, food safety and nutrition, both locally and nationally, is vital, too. We’ll continue to include these stories in our food coverage.

That said, I could use your help. Is your favorite chef starting a new restaurant? Have you heard rumors about a food festival coming to town? Any tips about food- and drink-related goings-on in Durango or La Plata County will be appreciated, so don’t hesitate to drop me a line. Call me at 375-4554 or email me at ngonzales@durangoherald.com.

Here’s to a new year of food and drinks in Southwest Colorado.

Nick Gonzales is the Durango Herald food editor. He can be reached at 375-4554 and ngonzales@durangoherald.com. Follow him on Twitter at @lackingzones.