Seminar 8 

Meeting with Kendal Chavez, Food & Hunger Coordinator, Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

 by Roxanne Chepsongol

 

 

 

Class 15’s seminar 8 sent them to explore business and community culture of Northwest New Mexico through interaction with key agricultural enterprises. The journey began with a stop in Albuquerque to discuss innovative input for the state’s direction on agriculture policy with Kendal Chavez, Food & Hunger Coordinator, Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Class 15’s seminar 8 sent them to explore business and community culture of Northwest New Mexico through interaction with key agricultural enterprises. The journey began with a stop in Albuquerque to discuss innovative input for the state’s direction on agriculture policy with Kendal Chavez, Food & Hunger Coordinator, Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.

 

            Ms. Chavez described the governor’s current policies in place for food and hunger initiatives as well as the last legislative session’s victories to the cause of wholesome food availability in the state. Topics discussed with class 15 were the impacts of food insecurity, intersectional food system challenges, food safety, food, farm and hunger goals, and critical interactions with local farms for school lunches.

            Currently New Mexico is 2^nd in the nation for child food insecurity. The governor’s office is partnering with agencies for a 5-year plan to manage and implement local food to tribes, pandemic EBT, senior meals and free school lunches in order to address food insecurity. Class 15 spoke Ms. Chavez about how agricultural can assist with governors’ goals and explained challenges they see with current structures in the state. Agricultural products that many of the programs are seeking are smaller farmers which have limited capacity of supply and biosecurity challenges for local needs. It was the desire of class 15 to explore how the all famers big and small can add nutritious food to local communities instead of export. Since agriculture crops are not price setter’s revenue will need to be added to keep the food in the state. Class 15 spoke about the current programs in place with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, communities and tribes like double up food bucks and local farmers market opportunities. Class 15 valued that the state desires for local food and markets but emphasized the need for more new farmers joining the force to produce what the state needs.

             Class 15 appreciated Ms. Chavez insight from the governor’s office about this critical topic of and food and hunger initiatives. 

            Ms. Chavez described the governor’s current policies in place for food and hunger initiatives as well as the last legislative session’s victories to the cause of wholesome food availability in the state. Topics discussed with class 15 were the impacts of food insecurity, intersectional food system challenges, food safety, food, farm and hunger goals, and critical interactions with local farms for school lunches.

            Currently New Mexico is 2^nd in the nation for child food insecurity. The governor’s office is partnering with agencies for a 5-year plan to manage and implement local food to tribes, pandemic EBT, senior meals and free school lunches in order to address food insecurity. Class 15 spoke Ms. Chavez about how agricultural can assist with governors’ goals and explained challenges they see with current structures in the state. Agricultural products that many of the programs are seeking are smaller farmers which have limited capacity of supply and biosecurity challenges for local needs. It was the desire of class 15 to explore how the all famers big and small can add nutritious food to local communities instead of export. Since agriculture crops are not price setter’s revenue will need to be added to keep the food in the state. Class 15 spoke about the current programs in place with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, communities and tribes like double up food bucks and local farmers market opportunities. Class 15 valued that the state desires for local food and markets but emphasized the need for more new farmers joining the force to produce what the state needs.

             Class 15 appreciated Ms. Chavez insight from the governor’s office about this critical topic of and food and hunger initiatives.

Other stops on seminar 8 were: 

NAPI, San Juan Soil and Water Conversation District, Growing Forward Farm, PESCO and New Mexico State University Ag Science Center... 

highlighted in photos below.