Public Education

Educating the public about locally grown food and farming is one of the NMFMA’s key priorities.

• www.FarmersMarketsNM.org—A robust website with complete resources for consumers, market managers, farmers, and interested parties
• 800# Phone Line—NMFMA staff provides information to individuals, communities, tribal organizations, government agencies, and others
• Albuquerque Journal Column—Monthly “Fresh@Home” inspires appreciation of local food and agriculture, and fresh, healthy cooking
• Consumer Publications—Original publications include a semi-annual “Locally Grown” food guide, “How to eat Fresh & Healthy on A Budget,” and more.
• Instructional Cooking Videos—Original NMFMA-produced series posted on YouTube and distributed on DVDs across the state
• Electronic Communications—A monthly consumer newsletter, frequent social media outreach, and regular broadcast stories provide news on local food, agriculture, and health
• Partnerships—Cross sector partners across the state work with the NMFMA to inform their networks about opportunities and resources

Technical Assistance

Providing foundational support to community-focused farmers’ markets is fundamental to the NMFMA’s work.

• Dedicated Staff—Staff assists market managers, communities, government officials and others with inquiries, resources and information
• Website—A complete resource for individuals and communities interested in starting, improving and sustaining their local farmers’ markets
• Annual Market Manager Conference—Every spring market managers from across the state gather to learn, network and sharpen their skills to make their markets successful gathering places for agriculture, health and community
• Best-practice Toolkits—Information is available on marketing, starting farmers’ markets, conducting economic impact assessments, and more
• Second Year Market Grants—Dedicated to improving food access in underserved areas and improving the nutritional diets of those at risk, the NMFMA provides $500 grants to markets that: (1) Will be in their second year of operation; and (2) Are located either in or adjacent to a “food desert” or a Far and Remote community (as defined by USDA), or located in a county with a higher than average rate of obesity or diabetes.

Food Access & Nutrition

Helping create access to healthy, fresh and affordable food for underserved populations drives the NMFMA’s daily work.  

• WIC & Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs—Working with the New Mexico Department of Health, the NMFMA provides government agency support including to ensure on-the-ground program success among low-income moms and seniors
• EBT/SNAP—Creating food access at farmers’ markets among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants, the NMFMA provides technical assistance to farmers’ markets and program coordination with the New Mexico Department of Human Services
• SNAP Double Up Food Bucks—Developing and supporting the SNAP incentive program known as Double Up Food Bucks, the NMFMA delivers statewide programming through innovative partnership development, program administration and the sourcing of federal and state funding
• Community Health Worker Programs—Creating and nurturing educational programs that provide community health workers with the tools and resources they need to assist their patients make healthy food choices
• FreshRx Produce Prescription Program—This program connects health clinics and their patients diagnosed with obesity and/or diabetes with fresh food from their local farmers’ markets
• Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (FVRx)—Developed and funded this Wholesome Wave program that sought to effect dietary and behavior change in families by connecting local health clinics and their low-income patients to nutrition education and fresh food incentives for their local farmers’ markets

Farmer Support

Helping farmers stay on their land always informs the work of the NMFMA.

• Microloan Program—Farmers’ across the state are eligible to apply for easy, low-interest, unsecured loans of up to $2,500 through our partner, the Sandia Credit Union
• Farmer Training—The NMFMA periodically partners with New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension, Farm to Table and other non-profit organizations to provide training and educational opportunities for on-farm success
• Engaging Youth in Farming through Digital Media Storytelling—Projects such as “Video Feeds” that worked with faculty and students at the University of New Mexico, San Juan College and New Mexico State University are developed to engage youth in issues of farming and sustainability
• Customer Development Programs—Initiating and supporting a breadth of programs that help customers get to know their farmers including Farmer Profiles, Mobile Messaging, a burgeoning New Mexico Farmers’ Market Trail, and more

2013 NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE SESSION:

HB 100/SB 219: To Develop and Promote New Mexico Farmers’ Markets

Sponsors: Rep. Don Tripp (R-Socorro) and Sen. Mary Kay Papen (D-Las Cruces)

On April 5, 2013, the bill for $85,000 to develop and promote farmers’ markets was signed by the governor as part of House Bill 2. A huge thank you to everyone who wrote letters, made phone calls, attended hearings, signed on as supporters, and helped spread the word to get the bill passed.

2015 NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE SESSION:

The New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association will be joining with several organizations including Farm to Table and the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market to ask for support for the Double Up Food Bucks Program. More details to come.

The New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association (NMFMA) recognizes that the Great State of New Mexico was established on land that Pueblo, Diné, Apache and other tribes have stewarded successfully over many centuries. Today, traditional agricultural land, water, and practices are in danger due to climate change, commercial and residential development, water transfers, and immigration policies. These ways of life and culture must be preserved to maintain and improve a more robust local food supply. All the people, native and immigrants, who contribute land, food, and environmental stewardship bring their cultural and historical knowledge and experience to compose our current culture and society.

With this recognition and in dedication to strengthening the local food system by supporting agriculture producers and cultivating the networks that sustain them, the NMFMA remains deeply committed to practices and programs that are fair, equitable, and inclusive. The Board of Directors and the staff of the NMFMA are committed to continuous self-learning and group learning on the topics of food sovereignty, self-determination, the history and leadership of our cultures and civilizations, and other areas that increase awareness and understanding toward the explicit goal of increasing equality and justice for all people in our state and beyond.

Recognizing that we can only solve problems that we have direct experience with, the NMFMA Board of Directors, through its policy governance structure, and staff strive to be composed of diverse individuals that represent people and cultures from across our state. Our focus will remain on the process of education, engagement, and representation to ensure consistent progress towards Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.