Karl Burgart initially started gardening as a means to “return to himself” after leaving a high-stress career in law enforcement. His home garden proved so prolific that he began selling organic produce at Colorado farmers markets. One day, a chance encounter changed everything: A Greek gentleman approached Karl’s booth, offering a sample of his olive oil. Blown away by the delicious flavor, Karl bottled the oil to sell with his vegetables.
After two years of helping his friend import the olive oil, Karl branched out with his own business, Healthy Harvest. The company, based in Golden, is built on his relationships with farms throughout the Mediterranean, including an exclusive partnership with a single-family estate in Tuscany that has produced olive oil for more than 200 years.
Every farm Karl works with prioritizes the immediate cold pressing of certified organic olives—a quick turnaround that locks in peak nutritional benefits and freshly picked flavor. “The importance of an early harvest for higher phenols and immediate pressing before the olives oxidize are critical for quality extra virgin olive oil,” Karl says. “My joy in this business has been seeing the impact it has had on our customers’ lives.”
Healthy Harvest has grown into a family affair since its founding. Daily operations are managed by Karl, his wife, Kat, and their son, Jonathan. Nearing retirement age, Karl is mentoring Jonathan to step into his shoes and anchor the future of the brand. Supporting the family are meticulously trained staff members. Karl invests heavily in his team and boasts that they not only promote a healthy lifestyle, but they also live it.
To maintain high-quality standards over their inventory, the family manages bottling, packaging and product development in-house. This rigorous care protects their diverse artisan product line, which features signature extra virgin olive oils, infused olive oils, rich balsamic vinegars imported from Modena, Italy and a custom balsamic reduction crafted by Karl and Kat. Healthy Harvest also offers a curated selection of holistic skincare products that promote the Mediterranean mentality of wellness from the inside out.
For Karl, a strict insistence on single origin, certified organic olives from small estates isn’t about marketing—it’s about public health. Mass-produced olive oils are frequently blended with cheaper filler oils or chemical additives that strip away natural benefits. By contrast, single origin olives harvested from clean, organic soils retain their highest possible concentrations of heart-healthy polyphenols and antioxidants. Investing in these untainted Mediterranean imports mirrors a piece of wisdom passed down by Karl’s family.
“My grandfather, Santiago Cortopassi, said, ‘"The most important things in life are your health and your family,’” Karl says. “’You can pay at the plate, or you can pay at the doctor. Where do you want to pay?’”
By prioritizing pure ingredients, Healthy Harvest invites consumers to choose the plate. By bridging the gap between Mediterranean groves and local markets, they demonstrate that food can serve as our most proactive medicine. The devotion to their original vision remains at the heart of the business today. “We are truly a small family Colorado business,” Karl says. “We’re committed to our mission of organic food and health education.”
Healthy Harvest
Golden, CO
healthyharvests.com
Use the promo code SPRINGS15 online at checkout or show this article at your local market to receive 15% off your Healthy Harvest order.