SENATE MEMORIAL 87

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

INTRODUCED BY

Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON CENTER FOR HEALTH POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE DEMISE OF RURAL GROCERY STORES AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE TO HELP REVERSE THIS TREND.

     WHEREAS, many independent grocery stores serving small communities have closed; and

     WHEREAS, many customers must travel significant distances to buy food for their households when, in the past, food could more easily be found close to their homes; and

     WHEREAS, jobs have been lost and communities have lost places for gatherings and socializing; and

     WHEREAS, the center for rural affairs has concluded that two million three hundred thousand Americans live in food deserts, which are areas that are ten or more miles from a grocery store; and

     WHEREAS, there are nationwide efforts to improve access to locally produced food through Farm to Table; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has a statewide initiative with the W.K. Kellogg foundation to establish healthy communities;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico state university college of business, the New Mexico department of agriculture and the Robert Wood Johnson center for health policy at the university of New Mexico be requested to serve as a lead team in convening a statewide working group to study the issue and recommend ways to sustain rural grocery stores, including public-private partnerships; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the lead team inform communities of the importance of supporting local grocery stores, as well as inform communities of the financial and social consequences of the loss of local grocery stores by conducting town hall-style meetings and community dialogues; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group involve a broad range of stakeholders in the rural grocery initiative and the study, including:

          A. food policy councils;

          B. the New Mexico farm and livestock bureau;

          C. the New Mexico association of counties;

          D. councils of governments;

          E. the Anderson school of management at the university of New Mexico;

          F. the economic development department;

          G. New Mexico First;

          H. the New Mexico municipal league;

          I. interested federal agencies, such as the United States department of agriculture;

          J. interested non-governmental organizations; and

          K. the Santa Fe community foundation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group present its findings and recommendations to the appropriate interim committee of the legislature by July 1, 2018; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted electronically to the members of the board of regents of New Mexico state university, the director of the New Mexico department of agriculture and the director of the Robert Wood Johnson center for health policy at the University of New Mexico.

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