New Mexico Celebrates LocalFoodConnectsNM Month & National Farmers Market Week

SANTA FE—Farmers’ markets and other local food outlets will be celebrating LocalFoodConnectsNM Month during August and National Farmers Market Week (Aug. 6-12). It's the perfect time to celebrate the fun, food, and flavor of New Mexico. Local markets across the state will be brimming with fresh, locally grown food, as well as arts, crafts, and entertainment for the whole family.

As part of the New Mexico—Taste the Tradition® Chef Ambassador Program, Chef Jordan Isaacson will be hosting a cooking demo with fresh local food at the Santa Fe Railyard Market on Aug. 5 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and participating in the Chef Showcase at the Santa Fe Del Sur Farmers’ Market on Aug. 15 from 3 to 6 p.m.

The New Mexico—Taste the Tradition® Chef Ambassador Program was created by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s Marketing and Development Division in 2018 out of a need and desire to create a larger voice for New Mexico agriculture and leave a lasting impact on buyers and consumers both in-state and nationally. Chefs Jordan Isaacson and Jon Young are the second class of the New Mexico—Taste the Tradition Chef Ambassadors. Each class serves a term of two years.

LocalFoodConnectsNM Month is an opportunity to explore local food and agriculture in your community. For six consecutive years, the month-long celebration has been recognized with a proclamation by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (see attached). This year’s theme for National Farmers Market Week is “Farmers Are Changing the Way We Eat, Shop, Connect, and More.”

For this year’s celebration, the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association (NMFMA) is distributing colorful flags to decorate farmers’ markets to raise awareness about the local food and the Double Up Food Bucks program. This program provides SNAP recipients with dollar- for-dollar match to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables. With one-fifth of New Mexicans relying on SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks helps SNAP shoppers eat more healthy food at no extra cost and benefits local farmers who grow this food.

Find local food outlets such as farmers’ markets, farm stands, CSAs, mobile markets, and grocery stores that sell locally grown food by visiting FarmersMarketsNM.org and checking out the market locator. Be sure to follow your local market and the NMFMA on social media for a regular serving of fun, food, and information about food assistance programs, including WIC & Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs, Double Up Food Bucks, and FreshRx.

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The New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association (NMFMA) is dedicated to strengthening the local food system by supporting agriculture producers and cultivating strong networks for a healthier New Mexico. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.