JUNE 24 - JULY 1, 2026
VOLUME 33, ISSUE 25
THE DEFINITIVE SOURCE FOR GRAND JUNCTION BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS SINCE 1994
Food-finding mission Brandon Leuallen The Business Times
W
hat began as a simple idea during a drive through Loma has grown into an online directory connecting thousands of Western Slope residents with local farm stands, farmers markets and food trucks. Matt Wharton, owner of Western Slope Digital, launched an interactive farmstand map on www.westernslope. digital/farmstands earlier this year after realizing many small food producers are difficult to find unless customers already know where to look. “About a year ago now, my wife and I were driving around Loma and saw a farm stand on the side of the road, and I said, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a map of all these?’” Wharton said. The idea sat on the shelf for several months before Wharton decided to put his web development skills to work. While browsing a local Facebook discussion about finding homemade sourdough bread, he realized the same problem applied to many small-scale food producers. “I saw a thread on a local Facebook page about sourdough bread sellers and just thought it would be a good time to put my skills to use and whip something up,” Wharton said. He initially added four farm stands mentioned in the discussion, contacted the owners and shared the map online. Interest grew quickly. See story Page 5
THEBUSINESSTIMES.COM
End of road for bike shop
Brown Cycles’ owner said industry trends are making mom-and-pop bike shops unsustainable — See Page 2 The words on the storefront windows tell the story as Brown Cycles, 549 Main St. in downtown Grand Junction, is in the middle of a going-out-of-business sale. Owner Chris Brown, who opened the store in the fall of 2000, also sent an email to other area bike-shop owners, letting them know he’s selling tools and equipment. Photo by Tim Harty.
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