New Mexico Media Coverage

My view: More fresh, local foods for students by Marion Kalb. Santa Fe New Mexican. Published 02/03/2008.
Students at more than 10,000 schools nationwide are eating fresh fruits and vegetables grown on nearby farms. The bad news is that school food service staffs, who prepare our children's lunches, are only given $1 per meal to buy the food they serve. Read the entire article.

Bills would help get local produce to schools by Staci Matlock. The New Mexican. Published 01/31/2008.
Several bills to promote locally grown produce are moving swiftly through the Legislature this session. Backers say the legislation is aimed at providing New Mexicans with healthier food and improving one of the state's more dismal statistics: New Mexico ranks second in the nation for food insecurity. Two bills would appropriate $1.44 million for schools to buy more fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables for school lunches. Read the entire article.

Chew on this by Gwyneth Doland. Santa Fe Reporter. Published 10/24/2007.
“The reason we have a Farm to School program is because of the farm bill,” Winne says. “The New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council got some of their money from the farm bill—and they were the ones who got the junk food out of schools! That’s one of those little programs that makes a big difference.” Read the entire article.

Bills push local produce on school menus by Staci Matlock. The Santa Fe New Mexican. Published 01/31/2007.
Supporters of local agriculture have bills before the House and Senate to buy more locally grown produce for New Mexico school children. Read the entire article.

Sysco Breathes New Life Into Local Agriculture by Kevin Robinson-Avila. NMSU News. Published 04/27/2005.

Read the entire article.

Congressman Asks Lawmakers to Focus More on Preventative Health Care by Massey, Barry. Albuquerque Journal. Published 01/19/2005.
U.S. Rep. Tom Udall wants the Legislature to help out in getting rid of junk food and encouraging better eating habits among New Mexicans, particularly children. Read the entire article.

Farm to School by Rosalie Rayburn. Albuquerque Journal. Published 09/03/2003.
Contracts help state growers financially and the fruit is a treat for schoolchildren They're sweet, juicy and on the kids lunch menu around New Mexico and other states. Watermelons are being served at schools through the end of September as part of a national program to support farmers and deliver nutrition to youngsters. The melons are the first fruits of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's $200,000 Farm to School program. Read the entire article.

School Contracts Help New Mexico Watermelon Growers Financially by Rosalie Rayburn. Albuquerque Journal. Published 09/03/2003.
They're sweet, juicy and on the kids lunch menu around New Mexico and other states. Watermelons are being served at schools through the end of September as part of a national program to support farmers and deliver nutrition to youngsters. The melons are the first fruits of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's $200,000 Farm to School program. New Mexico is one of 17 states participating. Read the entire article.

Growing Awareness by Carry Seidman. Albuquerque Tribune. Published 05/16/2003.
The goal of the program is to strengthen children's understanding of the sources of their food and instill in them the importance of a reverence for growing things. "I think it's very important that children know where their food comes from that's the bottom line," says Le Adams (no relation to Victoria), director of the program and a small-scale farmer herself. "And nothing teaches as well as hands-on activities." The hands-on activities on this day include planting pansies in individual pots for each child to nurture for Mother's Day and planting wheat grass seeds for later consumption. Read the entire article.