Denver CO - November 28, 2018 Faced with sales demand several times its current production levels, Colorado’s only edible insect farm is enlarging its rearing capacity to raise more crickets and mealworms, supplying a growing number of restaurants and food makers around the country. To support their growth they've launched a crowdfunding project with the food + beverage-focused platform, PieShell, which has already reached 76% funded in just a few short days.
While eating insects is not a mainstream food choice for many Americans, sales for edible insects are rising in North America, and forecast to continue growing by 43% through 2024, to reach a total global market value of $710 million (Global Market Insights, 2018). Capturing part of this market share, Rocky Mountain Micro Ranch (RMMR), founded in 2015, sells whole insects as functional and culinary ingredients, filling a niche sourcing need for chefs and food manufacturers interested in using an innovative food.
Filled with dense nutrition and raised using less land and water when compared with traditional livestock farming, edible insects are a food that align with popular eating trends such as alternative proteins and low-glycemic diets. Located in the revitalizing Westwood neighborhood in Denver, RMMR will add a second insect farming facility, called the “Chirp Box,” a shipping container specifically designed to raise crickets and six times more efficient than the farm’s current operations. This expansion will also increase the “micro ranch hands” by two additional employees, as well as create a new food processing position for making finished products.
Edible insects are an environmentally sustainable source of nutrition, including protein and essential nutrients such as iron, calcium and other minerals, as well as beneficial fats. A recent study showed that consuming crickets can improve human gut biome, and other research determined that humans absorb minerals better from eating insects than consuming beef. Widely enjoyed around the world, insects are frequently cited as a hot culinary ingredient, with chefs in the U.S. and Europe showcasing their unique flavors and textures as a legitimate ingredient.
About Rocky Mountain Micro Ranch
Rocky Mountain Micro Ranch (RMMR) is Colorado’s first and only edible insect farm, producing sustainably raised insects for products and functional ingredients used by chefs and food manufacturers. Learn more!
