Mountain Man Micro Farms owner Andrew McArdle donates a portion of sales from every crate of live microgreens he delivers across the Front Range to Texas-based Targeted Aquaponics Growth, a nonprofit that builds sustainable food growing systems for orphanages and children’s homes in low-income communities around the world. McArdle’s efforts—and flavor-packed vegetable seedlings—are two more reasons to eat your greens.

Chef Jesse Albertini opened her virtual pasta shop, Sfoglina, in July 2020 to bring hand-milled and slow-dried whole-grain noodles and monthly pasta subscriptions to hungry Coloradans—literally, as she self-delivers. Try Sfoglina’s twisted-tube casarecce and Addie’s Animals, named for her daughter, which put the letters in alphabet soup to shame. Even better, Albertini uses grains grown on the Eastern Plains and in Utah and donates five percent of her profits to local charities.

Denver-based Desserted delivers boxes full of sweet goodies with hand-doodled cards for any occasion or reason. Owners Jimmy and Amber LaPrelle aren’t just contributing to area dentistry practices through their cookie-and-candy company, though, as they also donate proceeds to organizations that are dear to them, including helping Food for Thought Denver feed students in need on weekends.

Denise Mickelsen
Denise Mickelsen
Denise Mickelsen is 5280’s former food editor. She oversaw all of 5280’s food-related coverage from October 2016 to March 2021.
Patricia Kaowthumrong
Patricia Kaowthumrong
Patricia joined the 5280 staff in July 2019 and is thrilled to oversee all of the magazine’s dining coverage. Follow her food reporting adventures on Instagram @whatispattyeating.