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.167400.1
HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 50
48
TH LEGISLATURE
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
FIRST SESSION
, 2007
INTRODUCED BY
Ben Lujan
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;
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.167400.1
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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
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
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.167400.1
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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 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
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.167400.1
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
agriculture and the president of northern New Mexico college.
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