NWNM Buy Fresh Buy Local Chapter
The Northwest New Mexico Local Food Task Force, now the NWNM Buy Fresh Buy Local Chapter was created to work on the 2018 Local Food, Local Places action plan. The group meets monthly on the last Tuesday of the month from 10am-noon at the San Juan College Quality Center for Business unless otherwise noted. The taskforce is open to all community members. To receive notification about the group, visit the full website at: NWNM Buy Fresh Buy Local.
NWNM Local Food Task Force is now the NWNM Buy Fresh Buy Local Chapter
NWNM Buy Fresh Buy Local Meetings take place monthly, the last Tuesday from 10am-noon. Join our mailing list for updates.
If you are interested in being notified about Local Food Events and Program, please join our mailing list by going to the NWNM Buy Fresh Buy Local Website.
Local Food Task Force Action Plan
The goal of the Farmington Local Food Task, now the NWNM Buy Fresh Buy Local Chapter, for is to form a local food task force that assesses local food system infrastructure (value chain) in order to articulate a unified vision for the local food system. This task force will provide a platform for collaboration, advocacy, a curriculum, and the provision of resources. Potential working groups within the task force: Food Hub (distribution), Processing (kitchen), Markets (retail), and Education (marketing, business development, etc.).
The Local Food, Local Places Farmington NM goals include:
Goal 1 - Improve coordination and communication.
Action 1.1 - Create a team to develop a data plan that identifies data needs such as land information, water data, growers, funding opportunities, mapping, end-user data needs and also use data to identify potential partners. (ACHIEVED! Visit the NWNM Buy Fresh Buy Local Chapter Website.
Action 1.2 - Develop a resource guide with local resources and information for growers including many important topics such as regulations, grants, markets, techniques, etc. ACHIEVED! Pick up the copy of the NWNM Local Food Guide at area Growers Markets in 2020.
Action 1.3 - Create an outreach plan/communication system that identifies existing outreach and communications efforts, assesses the gaps, and makes recommendations on how to better support and coordinate various efforts going forward.
Action 1.4 - Initiate a full-time coordination staff position for coordinating Local Foods, Local Places. Partially achieved! Visit the San Juan College Harvest Food Hub Website.
Action 1.5 - Work to improve coordination and cooperation both regionally and with the Navajo Nation specifically, both at the government and grassroots levels, to work together on local food system topics, initiatives and Local Foods, Local Places related follow up activities.
Goal 2 - Dream Big: Create a common vision for food, health and agriculture for Farmington and the 4 Corners region
Action 2.1 - Form a local food task force that assesses local food system infrastructure (value chain) in order to articulate a unified vision for the local food system. This task force will provide a platform for collaboration, advocacy, a curriculum, and the provision of resources. Potential working groups within the taskforce: Food Hub (distribution), Processing (kitchen), Markets (retail), and Education (marketing, business development, etc.) See NWNM Buy Fresh Buy Local for more information.
Action 2.2 - Form an advisory board to discuss the possibility of creating a land trust, for generating policies for land conservation and preservation of land for agricultural purposes
Action 2.3 - Create a food market, farmers market, local market or coop on the reservation. IN PROGRESS! A grant was awarded in 2019 to build The Mobile Harvest, a mobile growers market that will operate in 2020.
Goal 3 - Realize revitalization opportunities for downtown.
Action 3.1 - Identify open properties between downtown and river for community multi-use spaces, e.g., gardens, gatherings, recreations, etc.
Action 3.2 - Coordinate with downtown redevelopment to incorporate edible plantings in its landscape plan. Storefront ownership of the plantings. Establish a sponsorship plan to promote community involvement through donations for downtown redevelopment landscaping elements and planting.
Action 3.3 - Create an inventory of warehouse and retail spaces in the metropolitan redevelopment area for food distribution and food center.
Goal 4 - Evaluate and enhance the local food system and economy.
Action 4.1 - Create a production skills training series from home and community gardens to beginning and advanced farmers appropriate to local conditions, e.g., climate, culture, etc. IN PROGRESS. Visit the NMSU Ag Extension Website for information on the NWNM New Farmer Network Program.
Action 4.2 - Assess current seed savers and inventory.
If you have any questions, please contact me any time at bhopkins@nmsu.edu.
Looking forward,
Bonnie
Bonnie Hopkins
Agriculture Extension Agent
New Mexico State University
San Juan County
505-334-9496 office
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For more information about the National Local Foods, Local Places program, visit the EPA Website.