Farm switches to flowers after PFAS contamination

On an early June morning, beating the heat, Nikki McComsey, co-owner of Gather Mountain Blooms, and her all-woman team of farmers are weeding and cleaning up two acres of flowers on the 15 acres of land they lease from Venetucci Farms. The bright orange, red and pink hues of more than 20 varieties of flowers make it hard to tell this farming land was almost rendered unusable just a decade ago because of PFAS contamination.

Years ago, tests found forever chemicals in the crops at Venetucci Farms. The air force base and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment ordered the farm to cease production of all edible crops.

In 2020, McComsey and her two sisters approached PPREF with an idea: growing flowers on the farm for customers to pick themselves and create their own bouquets. “To be able to really focus in on cut flowers allows us to really refine who we are and become experts at what we do,” McComsey said.

Read more at Rocky Mountain PBS