GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — With all the abundant fresh fruit and vegetables that grow here in the Grand Valley, it makes good sense to have a food dehydrator — especially for food banks who need to distribute the perishables quickly.

Thanks to a $100,000 grant from Bellco Credit Union, Food Bank of the Rockies will purchase in August two produce dehydration units for the Western Slope.

Having the capability to dehydrate food will add significantly to what the food bank can offer Western Slope agencies, said Starlene Collins, manager for Western Slope Food Bank of the Rockies.

At times it can be a challenge to distribute perishable items quickly enough, she said.

“We hope more people will consider donating knowing we'll have the means to preserve the product and extend the shelf life,” Collins said.

The commercial-sized unit will allow the Food Bank to dehydrate thousands of pounds of Colorado produce that might otherwise go to waste, and distribute it to local residents in need.

Food Bank of the Rockies will join five other Feeding America food banks to have such capability.

“One in seven Coloradans struggle with hunger,” FBR president and CEO Kevin Seggelke said in a news release. “The dehydration units will enable us to provide nutritious food options to our partner agencies that we have not been able to provide prior to this generous gift from Bellco.

“Our children's programs will benefit tremendously from these dehydration units. Dried fruits are expensive to purchase and will now be offered to more than 2,300 children per week as a healthy snack option.”

The dehydrators will be housed near Western Slope farms. Dehydrated produce will include apples, peaches, cherries, potatoes, onions, peppers, carrots and tomatoes. The dried foods will be distributed in Grand Junction as well as across the state to people in Food Bank of the Rockies service areas.