Colorado's House Bill 26-1031 took effect in mid-August, making it illegal to sell out-of-state produce as locally grown Colorado fruit or vegetables. The law was driven by documented cases of peaches from Georgia, Texas, Arizona, and California being sold under canopy tents as Palisade-grown Colorado peaches — sometimes as early as May, months before local peaches are even ready. Violators face fines of up to $20,000.
The bill had bipartisan support and was championed by both Republican and Democratic legislators. It's designed to protect the state's "Colorado Proud" brand, which covers high-profile regional specialties including Palisade peaches, Pueblo chile peppers, Rocky Ford melons, and San Luis Valley potatoes. Small growers who depend on that regional brand reputation stand to benefit most.
For produce buyers and category managers sourcing locally branded product in Colorado, this law adds a compliance layer worth understanding — particularly for any programs that co-mingle out-of-state and in-state volume under local or regional branding.