The first thing I saw when I exited my car was a glorious view at the base of the Book Cliffs. Lush greens, breathtaking architecture and a 100-year-old apricot tree set against a beautiful backdrop of soaring heights and blue skies. The next sight was just as wonderful; Skip Doty’s bright smile as he welcomed me to Early Morning Orchard (EMO).

In 2011, Doty had a dream: he wanted to provide Western Colorado with high-quality, locally grown and affordable produce. Since then, persevering through the ups and down, EMO has grown bigger than ever, and 2025 marks its sixth year of regenerative agriculture. EMO has a variety of ways to get their produce to their customers, from farmers’ markets to community stores all the way to food banks and wholesales. EMO also encourages other local farmers to implement regenerative practices by offering seeds and guidance to get them on their feet.

“It’s all about people, not profit,” says Doty. “It’s that human touch. What’s important isn’t how much money I make at the end of the day — it’s that I know people get to go home with good food.”

For Doty, collaboration is the life force of EMO. Ed Malen was the stoneworker for EMO from 2011 to 2018 and is responsible for much of the beautiful structures around the orchard, including the recently restored fountain just outside of the comet structure — one of Doty’s many architectural visions turned masterpiece.

Julia Coffey is the farm director and has taken on more duties than ever as Doty works to transition EMO to his nephew, Matt. According to Doty, other key contributors to EMO’s success include Kaye Davis, local food banks, Skip’s Farm & Market and other community grocery stores, and farms like Cattle Valley and Ollin, all of whom support his mission of providing good food for everyone.

“I’ve been lucky to have some really great people who have worked here over the years,” Doty says. “People of all backgrounds and incomes. Everyone matters; it’s the same with our customers. The important thing is that we treat everyone with kindness and that we make sure they walk home with armfuls of fresh produce at a good price.”

As Doty continues to transfer EMO to his nephew and to Coffey, he expresses “cautious optimism” over their efforts to carry on the legacy of his dream, focusing their efforts on food banks and local sales above all else.

In his downtime, Skip likes to spend his days hiking the Book Cliffs and sharing memories and stories with his friends Tim and Eddie.

To learn more about Skip Doty and Early Morning Orchard, visit earlymorningorchard.com or contact Julia Coffey at info@earlymorningorchards.com.

Originally published in the fall 2025 issue of Spoke+Blossom.

Who We Are: Skip Doty