SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 41

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

James G. Taylor

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY, PLAN AND DESIGN OF, AND COOPERATE WITH BERNALILLO COUNTY IN DEVELOPING, A PERMANENT CENTRAL RETAIL-WHOLESALE FARMERS MARKET.

     WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico imports several billion dollars worth of food annually; and

     WHEREAS, the state's agriculture sector does not have the infrastructure to mobilize production for significant import substitution; and

     WHEREAS, current opportunities exist for direct marketing activities through local growers and farmers markets, but another opportunity is the development of infrastructure to stimulate and support direct-to-urban market activities; and

     WHEREAS, development of a sustainable agricultural system may be seen as a picture puzzle, with many pieces to be put into place before it is complete, including a central wholesale market that might function as a focal point for the region's agricultural market; and

     WHEREAS, a central retail-wholesale market facility could function as a permanent farmers market; and

     WHEREAS, such a central market could also serve as a small farm innovation center, providing preferential education for small farmers to stimulate investment in noncommodity, high-value specialty products and infrastructure to enable the year-round production that is essential to the viability of the central market concept; and

     WHEREAS, a central market should also have restaurants, a learning center, a community kitchen, a shop, a community gardening information area, a nutrition center and an environmental area to help the community establish the connection between its activities and global warming, urban heat islands, urban greening and energy conservation, analogous to that of Boston's fresh fish market; and

     WHEREAS, the market's clientele would include buyers for restaurants and public and private institutions; and

     WHEREAS, the market would function as part of the region's agricultural and food system and as a "destination attraction" incorporating a number of complementary elements, including wholesale commodities farm products, fresh produce, flowers, Christmas trees and other seasonal items, fresh meat, fresh poultry, dairy products, locally produced wines, other value- added agricultural products, specialty bakeries, specialty restaurants, educational facilities and a meeting and conference space;  

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico department of agriculture work with Bernalillo county to study the feasibility of, and to plan and design, a permanent central retail-wholesale farmers market to be located in Bernalillo county to include the aforementioned components; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico department of agriculture and Bernalillo county report their findings and recommendations to the appropriate committee of the legislature by December 1, 2008; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the New Mexico department of agriculture and to the board of county commissioners of Bernalillo county.

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