Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Farm & Ranch Enterprise

• Sweet corn

Price: Call Whole Foods for price

Where you can get it: Whole Foods

Business owners: Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe

Location: Towaoc

Tidbits: If your Sunday dinner just won't be complete without some delectable ears of sweet corn, then meander on down to your local Whole Foods.

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Farm & Ranch Enterprise in southwest Colorado specializes in growing a variety of sweet corn.

Greg Sullivan, marketing consultant for the tribe, says the farm and ranch began operations in 1992, three years after receiving water rights. The business now employs 90 people, primarily members of the tribe.

"They started the farm and ranch as employment for tribal members and out of a desire to produce high-quality food products," Sullivan said. "The sweet corn was originally grown for their own consumption, but demand became so high they started selling it to the public."

The sweet corn is grown (using water from the San Juan Mountains), handpicked and iced immediately right on the farm.

Sullivan added that the corn is in no way genetically modified.

For more information: utemountaingold.com or 970-565-6412

PeakWaggers

• Gourmet dehydrated dog meals

Price: $6.50 (beef jerky) and $8.95 (dog meals)

Where you can get it: CiJi's Natural Pet Supplies, Whole Pets, Wild Oats and Web site.

Business owner: Gayle Brooks

Location: Nederland

Tidbits: PeakWaggers came to Brooks in the form of a question: If there are dehydrated meals for people, than why not for dogs?

From there, all it took was a dehydrator and her natural talent in the kitchen to create a doglicious menu.

Brooks makes the meals using all-natural and organic meats, grains, vegetables and seasonings. She then dehydrates each one, and vacuum-seals and packages the food, all in the comfort of her own kitchen.

"The meals are ideal for anything outdoors, road trips, even finicky dogs," she said. "However, the food is not made to be given to a dog every day."

The meals come in four flavors, including a Barkin' Beef-Barley Stew for dogs with allergies to wheat. Each package contains two meals, which require 8 ounces of water for hydration.

Brooks also makes beef jerky with fish flavor added to make a doggie's mouth drool, an event she has witnessed since she test markets all PeakWaggers food on her biggest fans - her five Bernese Mountain dogs.

For more information: peakwaggers.com or 303-907-3363

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