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A JOINT MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING SOSTENGA!, THE CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD,

AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT AT NORTHERN NEW MEXICO COLLEGE, AS

A STATE RESOURCE FOR PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY

INVOLVEMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, FOOD SECURITY AND

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WHEREAS, New Mexico is ranked first in the nation in

food insecurity and third in hunger; and

WHEREAS, low-income New Mexico families spend as much as

twenty-six percent of their annual income on food, a

proportion that is double that of the national average; and

WHEREAS, evidence suggests that many New Mexicans,

especially those living in rural areas, do not have adequate

access to healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate foods

because they lack access to grocery stores and transportation;

and

WHEREAS, health problems caused by poor nutrition,

including obesity and diabetes, cost New Mexico three hundred

twenty-four million dollars ($324,000,000) annually; and

WHEREAS, those health problems can be remedied with

improved nutrition through adequate access to healthy,

affordable and culturally appropriate foods; and

WHEREAS, farm and ranch land has been supplanted by real

estate development, particularly in northern New Mexico; and

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WHEREAS, agricultural producers are increasingly

searching for additional economic development activities, such

as office and technical work, to augment a chosen agrarian

lifestyle; and

WHEREAS, sustenance farming has been the life blood of

northern New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, northern New Mexico college strives to expand

the college's capacity to address these issues through

Sostenga!, the center for sustainable food, agriculture and

environment and its commercial kitchen to promote healthy

eating and lifestyles, work force development, value-added

food production, entrepreneurship and management; and

WHEREAS, northern New Mexico college's Sostenga! center

seeks to develop educational programs, community resources and

a food cooperative to provide healthy local produce, support

local farmers and market value-added local products;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Sostenga!, the center for sustainable

food, agriculture and environment at northern New Mexico

college, is hereby recognized as a state resource for

participatory research and community involvement for

environmental health, food security and economic development

in northern New Mexico, and that this resource enhances the

state's capability to address the public health problems of

diabetes, obesity and rural economic and community

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development; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of the governor

be requested to provide information to the department of

health and the economic development department that Sostenga!,

the center for sustainable food, agriculture and environment

at northern New Mexico college, is a resource for

participatory research, community involvement, environmental

health, food security and economic development; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of the governor

be requested to direct the economic development department to

provide support in the form of business development assistance

and assistance in the creation of a food cooperative to sell

local produce and value-added products in Rio Arriba county,

and that the economic development department report to the

appropriate legislative interim committee regarding the level

of support to Sostenga! and the related food cooperative

initiatives by November 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of the governor

and any appropriate state agencies include representatives of

Sostenga! in health, economic development and food security

initiatives, particularly where the assets of northern New

Mexico may be utilized or its needs may be addressed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the governor, the secretary of economic

development, the director of the New Mexico department of

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agriculture and the president of northern New Mexico college.