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Golden Chile Awards, Food & Farms Day ceremony to honor food & farming champions
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Grown Coalition, the New Mexico Food & Agriculture Policy Council, and Farm to Table NM are excited to host the first-ever, in-person Golden Chile Awards ceremony, in conjunction with Food & Farms Day, from 2 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St. NW, Albuquerque.
As a member of the NM Grown Coalition, the New Mexico Department of Health’s (NMHealth) Obesity, Nutrition and Physical Activity Program partners with state and local organizations to increase healthy eating opportunities for preschoolers and students and support local food production.
The first joint-sponsored ceremony during Farm to School Month in October will honor 66 Golden Chile awardees for connecting children and seniors to locally grown food as well as five Food & Farms Day awardees for their outstanding efforts in supporting farming, conservation, farmer’s markets and sustainable food systems.
Representatives from the Office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham as well as the Departments of Aging and Long-Term Services, Agriculture, Early Childhood Education & Care, NMHealth, and Public Education will join the statewide awardees for an invitation-only tour of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center’s Entrepreneurial Complex at 2 p.m. followed by a 3 p.m. ceremony and reception.
“Congratulations to all the awardees for investing in the health of our children and families, and the economic vitality of our farmers and ranchers,” said Kendal Chavez, Food and Hunger Advisor in the Office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. “Your support of local, nutritious food for preschoolers, students and seniors is building a healthier New Mexico.”
Food & Farms Day celebrates statewide efforts that support people’s access to nutritious food and strengthen New Mexico’s local food, farming and ranching economy. The celebratory event highlights the intersection between health, sustainable food systems and the economic well-being of local farms and ranches.
The New Mexico Grown Coalition, a network of state agencies, nonprofit organizations and community-based groups, established the Golden Chile Awards Program with four recognition tiers – Seed, Sprout, Blossom and Golden Chile – to honor all levels of involvement in NM Grown programming.
This year, 15 organizations earned the top Golden Chile award, which requires applicants to achieve all aspects of the NM Grown Program: establish edible gardens; serve locally grown food; provide gardening lessons and nutrition education; promote NM Grown and align programming to the community’s culture; offer taste testing and menu feedback; and engage staff, families and communities.
NMHealth’s Healthy Kids Healthy Communities Program partners with the Early Childhood Education & Care Department (ECECD) to support preschools in providing more locally grown food, garden and nutrition education, and physical activity to their students. Most of the 15 preschools being honored this year achieved advanced awards.
Eighteen school districts will be honored for serving thousands of students locally grown food each year, in addition to offering healthy eating activities and education. The 14 senior centers earning awards this year are located in such counties as Bernalillo, Guadalupe, Los Alamos, Luna, San Juan, Sandoval and Santa Fe. The Aging and Long-Term Services Department supports the centers to buy and serve New Mexico Grown food in senior meals.
The New Mexico Grown Program ensures that farms and gardens supplying fresh produce for school and senior meals follow food safety practices. This is the third-year food producers could earn awards for providing community education, selling food to local institutions, and following water and soil conservation practices as well as sustainable and organic farming practices
The 2024 Golden Chile Awardees this year are:
Golden Chile (mature and fruitful program):
- Desert Verde Farm in Santa Fe
- North Valley Organics
- Rancho de Santa Fe
- Frontier Food Hub in Silver City
- San Juan College Harvest Food Hub
- A Gold Star Academy & Child Development Center in Farmington
- Christina Kent Early Childhood Center in Albuquerque
- Farmington Municipal Schools Childcare Center Sponsorship
- Future Generations, LLC, in Clovis
- New Mexico Early Learning Academy in Albuquerque
- Elida Municipal Schools
- Farmington Municipal Schools
- Roswell Independent School District
- Blanco & Lower Valley senior centers
- Sandoval County Senior Program
Blossom (program reaching maturity):
- Anthony Youth Farm
- Elder’s Greenhouse & Garden in Aztec
- Full Circle Mushrooms
- Gatherings Gardens in Bloomfield
- Nacimiento Natural Products in Cuba
- Ramel Family Farms in Raton
- Stark Family Farms in Aztec
- Sweet Mercy Farms in Albuquerque
- Twin Rivers Farm in Roswell
- Zia Queenbees Farm & Field Institute
- La Semilla Food Center in Anthony
- Cuidando Los Niños in Albuquerque
- East Gate Kids in Albuquerque
- Isleta Pueblo Head Start & Child Care
- My Kiddos Too in Roswell
- Pueblo of Zuni Head Start
- Serendipity Day School in Albuquerque
- Western Heights Learning Center in Albuquerque
- Albuquerque Public Schools
- Cuba Independent Schools
- Dexter Consolidated Schools
- Portales Municipal Schools
- Adelante Development Center in Albuquerque
- City of Albuquerque Senior Affairs
- City of Santa Rosa – Campos Senior Center
- Deming Luna County Commission on Aging
- Los Alamos Retired & Senior Organization
Sprout (program growing strong):
- Blue Box Farm in Villanueva
- Morrow Farms in Hatch
- Heart of the Desert Pistachios & Wines in Alamogordo
- Little Footprints in Hatch
- St. Mark’s Montessori School in Albuquerque
- Bernalillo Public Schools
- Bloomfield Municipal Schools
- Christine Duncan Heritage Academy in Albuquerque
- Clovis Municipal Schools
- Las Cruces Public Schools
- Los Lunas Public Schools
- Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools
- Silver Consolidated Schools
- West Las Vegas School District
- Aztec Senior – Community Center
- Enchanted Living of New Mexico in Rio Rancho
- Meals on Wheels NM
- Town of Vaughn Senior Center
Seed (program has potential):
- New Mexico Children First in Sunland Park
- Cobre Consolidated School District in Silver City
- Hobbs Municipal Schools
- La Loma Senior Center
- Puerto de Luna Senior Center
- Santa Fe County Senior Services
The 2025 Food & Farms Day Awards go to:
Good Food for New Mexico Award | Celebrating Farmers’ Markets
Silver City Farmers’ Market
Growing the Future Award | for New or Young Farmers and Ranchers
Casey Holland | Chispas Farm
Heart of the Land Award | for Outstanding Leadership in Farming and Ranching
Bryce Townsend | Black Mesa Farm
Living Land Award | for Outstanding Leadership in Land Stewardship
Melanie Kirby | Zia Queenbees Farm & Field Institute
Sowing Change Award | for Organizations Engaged in Creating Sustainable Food Systems
New Mexico Public Education Department
Media Contact
We would be happy to provide additional information about this press release. Simply contact David Barre at (505) 699-9237 (Office) with your questions.
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