BANK
Pictured: Flowering Amaranth, native to the Americas, is a traditional food source and a symbol of resilience.
“The social groups that suffer disproportionately from chronic food insecurity and poverty are the same ones that have experienced high levels of discrimination in accessing land, loans, technical assistance, and equipment for farming.”
- Farm to Food Assistance Report | Wallace Center at Winrock International, 2024.
The first program of its kind, the Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) program seeks to address these realities. Born out of the major disruptions to the food supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers funding to localize the food supply while prioritizing equity in government-funded food procurement programs.
In New Mexico, the LFPA program funds the Regional Farm to Food Bank (RF2FB) initiative, managed by The Food Depot in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, on behalf of the food bank network. Launched in 2022, RF2FB leverages the state’s robust food bank network to invest directly in local producers and enhance the healthy and culturally responsive food options at food banks. By supporting local agriculture, RF2FB creates a powerful economic multiplier effect that strengthens regional economies.
Additionally, the program addresses historical inequalities in USDA investment by purchasing local products from small producers at fair market prices. It also provides an incentive for producers to feed their own communities.
Investment in local food producers helps address the root causes of food insecurity and works towards repairing the food system.
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF RF2FB
$1 spent on local food $1 .70 economic impact
* According to the Local Food Impact Calculator
VISION AND VALUES
• Local Investment
• Fair Pricing
• Climate Smart
• Regional Preference
• Nutritious Foods
• Culturally Responsive
• Food Sovereignty
• Resiliency
• Dignity
• Equity
• Community Well-being =
PRODUCER IMPACT
• Ability to Grow Business
• Expansion of Products
• Infrastructure Investments
• Market Assurance
PROGRAM PARTNERS
• New Mexico Association of Food Banks
• New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association
• New Mexico Department of Agriculture
• The Food Depot
• Governor Michelle LujanGrisham’s Food Initiative
FOOD BANKS’
According to a 2021 U.S. Census Bureau report on the retail trade sector, New Mexico has approximately 228 full-service grocery stores, while the industry average is 5,000 people per store. With New Mexico’s population, the state should have around 420 grocery stores to meet the industry standard. The lack of adequate grocery stores limits food availability and variety. Furthermore, people’s ability to use SNAP benefits are adversely affected. This highlights the need to invest in New Mexico’s local food system—not only to increase access to nutritious food but also to support local economies, create jobs, and reduce dependence on out-of-state food supplies. Investing in the local food system is essential for building a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable food infrastructure for New Mexico’s communities.
The New Mexico Association of Food Banks (NMAFB) is uniquely positioned to help fill these gaps by combining resources to procure food, and leveraging its existing distribution network of over 500 statewide partner agencies to provide critical food access.
RF2FB strategically utilizes this robust network to distribute local, healthy foods to these communities in all 33 counties.
LOCAL PROCUREMENT
AT A GLANCE
Since January 2023, 865,602 pounds of local foods have been distributed, equaling 721,335 healthy meals.
Apple
High value proteins are the number one requested food type from food banks.
Radish
Green beans
Arugula
Asparagus
Basil
Beef*
Beets
Bell Pepper
Blackberries
Blue Cornmeal
Cabbage
Cantaloupe
Carrot
Cedar Ash
Celery
Cherry Tomatoes
Chile Cilantro
Corn
Cucumber
Eggplant
Eggs*
Garlic
Green Onions
Hakurei Turnips
Jalapeno
Juniper Ash
Kale
Head Lettuce
Salad Mix
Mixed Produce
Boxes*
Mutton*
Okra
Onion
Peach
Pear
Pecans
Poblano
Pomegranates
Pork*
Posole
Potatoes*
Pumpkin
Spinach
Sumac Berries (Chit chin)
Summer Squash*
Sweet Potatoes
Tomato Turnips
Watermelon
Winter Squash*
*TOP PURCHASED FOODS IN 2024
“Food
sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.”
-Declaration of Nyéléni, 2007
Components of a traditional New Mexican diet including steamed dried corn, pinto beans, squash (calabacitas), mutton, blue cornmeal, posole, atole, juniper, ash, and roasted chile are prioritized food items for purchase, and are otherwise challenging for food banks to source.
Access to culturally significant foods contribute to a dignified experience for clients.
4 Birds Photography
4 Birds Photography
94% of Sales Benefited Socially Disadvantaged and Historically Underserved Producers ($3,214,944) Total Local Food Budget from
Over 250 food distribution sites have received local foods in all 33 counties in New Mexico.
available
$ SPENT ON LOCAL FOODS
Farmers, ranchers, and food hubs operate across the state.
Featured in pictures: Farm of Song, Reunity Resources, Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network, New Mexico Beef, and RJ’s Legacy.
Producers are represented in 17 of the 33 counties.
200+ The estimated count of regional farmers, ranchers, and food hubs selling directly or indirectly to RF2FB.
NEW MEXICO GROWN
Linking Growers to Diversified Market Opportunities
WHAT IS NEW MEXICO GROWN?
New Mexico Grown is designed to facilitate an access point for small and mid-sized farmers, ranchers, and food hubs to sell into schools, senior centers, early childcare centers, and now food banks. RF2FB is the latest addition to the innovative New Mexico Grown program. All food purchases made with New Mexico Grown funding are sourced through the Approved Supplier Program.
WHAT IS THE APPROVED SUPPLIER PROGRAM?
The Approved Supplier Program is managed by New Mexico Farmers Market Association, and was developed in tandem with the goals of New Mexico Grown. Functionally, the Approved Supplier Program ensures small to mid-sized New Mexican food producers can demonstrate food safety and provide quality assurances. This provides buyers with the confidence they need to make informed purchasing decisions.
In FY 24, 34% of all New Mexico Grown purchases were from RF2FB, expanding the impact of New Mexico Grown.
The New Mexican Approved Supplier list has seen a five fold increase in local producers since 2022.
67% of Approved Suppliers are small agricultural operations, growing on less than 25 acres.
Makingan IMPACT!
BUILDING A RESILIENT LOCAL
NATIONAL CENTER FOR FRONTIER COMMUNITIES: FRONTIER FOOD HUB
Silver City, New Mexico
Expanding Distribution in Frontier Communities
“Through RF2FB, Frontier has been able to create more connections with food pantries in Catron and Luna County, places we were not serving regularly. We’ve been able to offer other programs such as our Mobile Farmers’ Markets in these communities, where folks can use their double-up food bucks and snap dollars. As we’ve expanded distribution, we’ve brought in new producers. Farmers we work with have confidence to increase investment and production on their farms.”- Chase Sturdevant, Frontier Food Hub Operations Manager
“With a population of only 3,580, Catron County covers almost 7,000 square miles. It has only 2 small food markets that are 55 miles apart. This makes food pantries in Catron County not just supplemental, but essential food access points for residents. We are so thankful that Frontier Food Hub partners with RF2FB to deliver fresh, local products to Catron County food pantries, bolstering the quality and quantity of food for our clients.” - Cindy Cook, President of Catron County food pantries, Catron County, NM
“Frontier’s service for the monthly farmers’ market and farm-to-pantry has been invaluable for our community in Columbus, NM. Whereas residents’ would typically rely on big farm produce at Wal-Mart, we now enjoy the literal fruits of our local farmer’s labor.” - Wilson Moore, Executive Director of El Corazon de Columbus food pantry, Luna County, NM
Mission:
Serving frontier and rural farmers with access to new markets, sales, and distributions.
Working with: 10+ farmers, ranchers, and other food producers
Products delivered: fresh produce
9 out of 10 of high food insecurity counties are rural
FOOD SYSTEM IN NEW MEXICO
NACIMIENTO NATURAL PRODUCTS
Cuba, New Mexico
Fourth Generation Rangeland Beef
Reshaping the Family Business for Long-Term Sustainability
Daniel Chavez, a fourth-generation rancher, is reviving the family’s smallscale cattle operation for improved bottom lines and diversified sales. By pivoting the beef processing to an in-state USDA-certified facility and becoming an Approved Supplier for New Mexico Grown, Nacimiento Natural Products has gained access to new institutional markets that support fair pricing for small businesses.
RF2FB has contributed to the businesses' viability by increasing demand for grass-fed meat at wholesale volumes for food-insecure communities in Northern New Mexico.
“The commodity beef market is set up to produce meat as quickly and easily as possible, with the lion’s share of profits made by the feedlots and packing companies in other states. We need our high-quality food products to stay here.” - Daniel Chavez, rancher and owner of Nacimiento Natural Products
Average miles traveled from ranch to plate: 109 miles
Products delivered: lean ground beef
Regional Sourcing
RF2FB works with local producers and the food bank network to coordinate a successful “pantry match” that is geographically near the business. With the First Baptist Church of Chama Food Pantry just 20 minutes away from the USDA-certified processor that Nacimiento Natural Products partners with, RF2FB can purchase local beef directly from Nacimiento Natural Products to immediately benefit area families accessing food pantry resources.
When we include the locally raised food items at distributions, our clients are overwhelmed with gratitude. Our area is limited in employment opportunities, which makes it difficult for a wage earner to sustain a healthy family. The RF2FB program allows our families to enjoy quality meat they would be hard-pressed to obtain without this program.
- Pastor Tim White, First Baptist Church of Chama Food Pantry
Cuba
Chama
Tierra Amarilla
LINKING LOCAL SOLUTIONS
Albuquerque, New Mexico
MoGro Mobile Grocery MISSION
MoGro is a non-profit organization that increases food access in New Mexico communities through sourcing, packing, and distributing in collaboration with local farmers, producers, and community partners.
MoGro sources from over 20 farmers and ranchers, aggregating local produce to create CSA-style mixed produce boxes. MoGro assembles its weekly produce boxes at the Roadrunner Food Bank warehouse, and purchasing from them allows for efficient management and distribution of fresh produce. This year, RF2FB purchased a total of 3,000 CSA boxes over 20 weeks, which were distributed to the local community through Roadrunner’s Healthy Foods Center.
“RF2FB has strengthened our connection with Roadrunner Food Bank,who has been hosting our in-person operations for years. Through RF2FB, Roadrunner and MoGro are now in direct partnership in feeding the community, a shared mission of both of our organizations.” - Mateo Carrasco, Executive Director of MoGro Mobile Grocery
Bernalillo
Albuquerque
FOR BUSINESS AND HEALTH
Roadrunner Food Bank’s Healthy Foods Center
Roadrunner Food Bank’s Healthy Foods Center is a medical referral pantry that supports individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Clients can visit the center weekly and receive support for up to two years, gaining access to healthy foods, nutrition education, and resources. With help from Amazon and DoorDash, the Center delivers MoGro’s CSA-style produce boxes to homebound individuals, providing consistent access to nutrient-dense foods to improve health outcomes.
“This was essentially the highest quality produce going out to the most at risk population, which is the best case scenario. These types of collaborations are pioneering a new mindset of what food banking can be and increases the reach and accessibility of services.”
- Shelbie Corriz, Director of Health Equity Partnerships at Roadrunner Food Bank
CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Federal Level
Challenges:
• The initial federal funding for LFPA expires in June 2025. While new funding was announced in October 2024 for “LFPA25” it only covers food purchases, not administrative costs. Without additional funding to support the management of the program, the Regional Farm to Food Bank initiative will not be sustainable.
• The future of the Farm Bill is uncertain, and until it is reauthorized, there is no clear path to securing permanent federal funding for LFPA.
Recommendation:
• Make LFPA a permanently funded program through the Farm Bill, including administrative funding. This would provide security for small and midsize farmers and ranchers, stabilize the local food supply, and strengthen regional economies across the country. Administrative funding is essential to sustain and build on the program’s success.
State Level
Challenge:
• New Mexico producers lack adequate access to refrigerated and freezer transportation and processing facilities, limiting their ability to expand supply chains. Food pantries, especially in rural areas, struggle with cold storage and are limited in their food distribution reach.
Recommendations:
• Expand statewide funding for New Mexico food banks to address meal gaps and support capacity and infrastructure improvements in the food bank network and food hubs.
• Support funding for programs like the Approved Supplier Program to diversify New Mexico producers selling to food banks and institutions, and the Healthy Food Financing Fund (HFFF), which helps grow and distribute local, healthy food in rural and underserved communities through financial tools and technical assistance.
It is clear that we are making great strides in building a more sustainable, equitable food system for New Mexico. By connecting local farmers with hunger relief efforts, we’re not only addressing immediate food insecurity but also creating lasting economic opportunities for socially disadvantaged producers across the state. This partnership continues to strengthen our local food systems, ensuring that more New Mexicans have access to healthy, locally grown food. Together, we are fostering collaboration, building capacity, and empowering communities to grow and thrive, all while working toward our shared vision of creating a healthy, hunger-free New Mexico.” - Jill Dixon, Executive Director of The Food Depot in Santa Fe, NM
Featured: The Regional Farm to Food Bank Team.
From left to right is Meredith
and
Lorencz based in Gallup, NM, Erica Villegas based in Bayard, NM, Bonnie Murphy based in Santa Fe, NM,
(not pictured) Sergio Mata-Cisneros based in Santa Fe, NM.
