The New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association is dedicated to strengthening the local food system by supporting New Mexico agriculture producers and cultivating strong networks for a healthier New Mexico.
We envision a food system where:
Farmers earn a fair price for their products
Fresh, healthy, culturally-appropriate food is available and affordable for everyone
The public is deeply engaged in the local food economy
Food dollars recirculate in our communities
A strong web of partnerships supports a resilient food system
The New Mexico Farmers' Marketing Association is devoted to supporting farming and locally produced foods in every New Mexico community. We do this by:
Sustaining the farmers and producers who grow and sell food at farmers' markets and other local and direct marketing venues in New Mexico.
Educating the public about the importance of eating healthy, locally grown and produced food.
Encouraging the purchase of healthy locally grown food by all New Mexicans, including low-income and food insecure members of New Mexico communities.
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.
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
Liability Insurance for Farmers' Markets - Farmers' markets that are members of the NMFMA are eligible to buy general liability insurance through the association
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.
Helping create access to healthy, fresh and affordable food for underserved populations drives the NMFMA's daily work.
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
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
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 Program - Connecting health clinics and their patients diagnosed with diet-related illnesses 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
Educating the public about locally grown food and farming is one of the NMFMA's key priorities.
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
