SENATE MEMORIAL 59

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 20, 2017 "NEW MEXICO FOOD AND FARMS DAY" IN THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has a vibrant food and farming culture that is significant to the rural economy and provides employment opportunities on farms, such as wholesale and retail opportunities and in food processing, distribution and value-added business; and

     WHEREAS, studies have shown that for every dollar that goes to local agricultural producers, one dollar eighty cents ($1.80) is circulated in the local economy; and

     WHEREAS, if New Mexico consumers purchased only fifteen percent of their food from the state's farmers and ranchers, it would increase annual farm income by three hundred ninety-two million dollars ($392,000,000); and

     WHEREAS, state funds of three hundred thirty-five thousand dollars ($335,000) have been awarded to fifty-one school food authorities specifically to purchase New Mexico-grown produce for school meals, enhancing the diets of three hundred forty-seven thousand students, promoting healthier lifestyles and increasing academic achievement; and

     WHEREAS, an investment in children's health will help stem the rise in childhood obesity in New Mexico, where thirty-two percent of children are overweight or obese; and

     WHEREAS, increased investment from the legislature enables schools to feature New Mexico-grown produce and to meet federal nutrition requirements, serve more fresh fruits and vegetables to children and support economic development opportunities for local farmers, entrepreneurs and communities; and

     WHEREAS, seventy-five farmers are providing New Mexico products to forty-five thousand people each week in thirty-one counties by direct sales and through the supplemental nutrition assistance program, the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children and senior farmers' market nutrition programs, resulting in annual gross sales of six million dollars ($6,000,000) in 2016; and

     WHEREAS, eighty double up food bucks outlets, including farmers' markets, grocery stores, farm stands and mobile markets, are making it more affordable for supplemental nutritional assistance program participants across the state to increase the amount of fresh, New Mexico-grown produce that they eat while providing farmers with more than seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) in electronic benefits transfer sales during 2016; and

     WHEREAS, a healthier population will help to save the state an additional three hundred twenty-four million dollars ($324,000,000) in obesity-related health care expenses and an additional one billion two hundred million dollars ($1,200,000,000) for diabetes; and

     WHEREAS, creating food hubs, produce processing and distribution centers and community kitchens could accelerate the growth of farmers and rural food entrepreneurs; and

     WHEREAS, the growing number of New Mexico community and school gardens provide an important way for children and families to engage in growing food and provide a way for children to learn about nutrition and life sciences; and

     WHEREAS, to achieve these goals, programs such as foodcorps, americorps, food policy councils, health councils, health equity partnerships, community outreach patient empowerment and many other organizations and agencies help to coordinate programs and make the connections between health, the built environment and policies;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it recognize that the time has come to invest in New Mexico's children, economy and future; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that February 20, 2017 be declared "New Mexico Food and Farms Day" in the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the executive director of New Mexico farmers' marketing association.

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