Arvada, Colorado Was Once Called the Celery Capital of the World

Colorado's abundant agricultural industry has had a significant economic impact for many years. The Centennial State produces widely-consumed foods like peaches, beef, melons, and green chiles, which are exported to more than 100 countries worldwide.

Surprisingly, celery is another crop with deep roots in Colorado. At one point in history, the city of Arvada was even dubbed the "Celery Capital of the World."

Colorado's role in the celery industry began in the 1880s when miners in the Rocky Mountain region discovered that the canals they had previously dug while searching for ore were also excellent for farming. The area's well-draining soil also made a huge impact. Farmers in Arvada found a steady market for their produce in Denver and nearby mining camps.

In the early 1900s, a particular variety of celery from Aravada gained national attention for the way it was specially harvested and for its distinct flavor. Pascal celery was unique because it was buried at harvest time to create a sweeter flavor and a more buttery texture. This practice is known as "trenching." Harvesting celery in this way was especially popular with Denver's Italian immigrant community. Farmers in Jefferson, Arapahoe, and Adams counties soon caught on to the new method and began producing Pascal celery in large quantities.

Colorado Pascal celery was renowned for decades and by 1934, it was being shipped to every state in the nation. Since harvesting celery crops always coincided with the holiday season, the crunchy green stalks from Colorado became a staple on Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables across the country. Pascal celery even made its way to the White House and was served as a side with holiday dinners for many years.

Although Pascal celery was both popular and profitable, it was incredibly labor-intensive to produce. As men were being sent off to fight in World War II, the workforce that was needed to harvest celery crops began to dwindle. This was a crushing blow to the industry and ultimately led to its demise.

By the 1950s, demand for trenched and blanched celery had seriously plummeted. This, paired with climate change and drier conditions, led to fewer farmers planting Pascal celery in Colorado.

Nowadays, planting Pascal celery in Colorado is rare, but not unheard of. The tradition has been kept alive by at least one family farm in Arvada, which still harvests trenched celery each year for a group of local Italian Americans who crave the sweet veggie.