SENATE MEMORIAL 16

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Howie C. Morales

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING JANUARY 23, 2018 "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 one dollar ($1.00) 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, 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, over the last five years, more than fifty-one school food authorities have purchased New Mexico-grown produce for school meals with state funds, enhancing the diets of three hundred forty-seven thousand students, promoting healthier lifestyles and increasing academic achievement, while more than one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) has benefited New Mexico's farming economy; 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, creating fresh food access for low-income individuals and resulting in annual gross sales to farmers of seven million five hundred thousand dollars ($7,500,000) in 2017; 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 eight hundred New Mexico farmers with more than one million dollars ($1,000,000) in electronic benefits transfer sales during 2017; 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 provides an important way for children and families to engage in growing food and provides a way for children to learn about nutrition and life sciences; and

     WHEREAS, to achieve these goals, agricultural, health and education-related organizations and agencies help coordinate programs and make the connections among health, the built environment and policies through the support of organizations such as food policy councils, health councils, health equity partnerships, foodcorps, americorps, 4-H, farm-to-school programs and others;

     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 January 23, 2018 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 the New Mexico farmers' marketing association.

- 4 -