Two Otero County Organizations Receive State Food Access Grants

Food access, nutrition and fresh food security has been a hot topic in Otero County. NewMexicoConservativeNews.com, AlamogordoTownNews.org and KALHradio.org has run numerous features on food security and the efforts of locals to positively impact food security. 

Much of the dialogue has been led by Courtney McCary Squyre via her efforts at bringing community gardens to Alamogordo and with Greg Gutierrez in Tularosa. This partnership has highlighted fresh food access and food insecurity in Otero County and raised awareness. With her efforts the first community gardens came to life in the Alamogordo MainStreet district as the New York Avenue alley way gardens,  to then
 the Maryland Avenue Community Garden across from the Dudley school. This garden was a cornertone of redevelopment of a once desolate and rundown area of the inner city neighborhood. She accomplished this with her husband and with passion in partnership with City of Alamogordo, Alamogordo Parks & Recreation Department. The couple's leadership then moved the community and thus expanded community partnerships with the Puerto Rico Avenue Community Garden, in partnership with Grace Methodist Church Alamogordo. This garden is dedicated to donate and share with the community and to support the Otero Hunger Coalition.

Along that stream of consciousness concerning food access the New Mexico's rural and more economically challenged communities, the New Mexico Economic Development Department announced $275,000 in grants to eight businesses and organizations expanding food access in underserved communities across the state. 

Two Otero County organizations qualified for grants out of 8 awarded. 

A & M Meat Processing in Alamogordo, a female-owned business serving 190 local farmers.

A and M Meat Processors AlamogordoTownNews.org A & M Meat Processing in Alamogordo, a female-owned business serving 190 local farmers

The Little Store #2 in Chaparral, which provides essential groceries and supports local schools, churches, and community events.

AlamogordoTownNews.org The Little Store #2 in Chaparral, which provides essential groceries and supports local schools, churches, and community events.

The funding comes through the Healthy Food Financing Fund, part of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's Food Initiative, and targets projects addressing food insecurity while promoting economic development in the agricultural sector.

“These projects are part of a growing food value chain network that will ultimately strengthen our state’s food ecosystem,” EDD Cabinet Secretary Rob Black said. “Supporting their success will increase access to healthy food for families across New Mexico.”

The grants, ranging from $25,000 to $50,000, are administered by the department's Food, Hunger and Agricultural program in partnership with Vida Mejor Capital.

Three organizations received $50,000 each in Southern New Mexico with two from Otero County:

• A & M Meat Processing in Alamogordo, a female-owned business serving 190 local farmers.
• Frontier Food Hub in Silver City, which distributes food from over 45 farmers and ranchers.
• The Little Store #2 in Chaparral, which provides essential groceries and supports local schools, churches, and community events.

Five organizations received $25,000 each:

• Ashokra Farm in Albuquerque, a 1.5-acre vegetable farm specializing in culturally significant okra.
• Metate Mill in Questa, a grain processing facility that converts locally grown wheat into flour for bakers, markets, and schools.
• Ogallala Commons in Clovis, a nonprofit revitalizing rural communities through food system development and value-based supply chain coordination.
• Prickly Pear Food Co-op in Truth or Consequences, a member-owned, volunteer-run cooperative.
• Seed & Bloom in Santa Fe, a nonprofit offering horticulture and culinary training to incarcerated individuals.

Projects include expanding fresh food inventory, upgrading food-safe infrastructure, installing cold storage, implementing systems to accept nutrition assistance benefits, and replacing essential refrigeration equipment. They aim to help underserved communities access food, improve job training, enhance market access for small farms, improve food storage and transportation, and promote sustainable farming practices.

To read a descriptin this program funding please visit the Healthy Food Financing Fund webpage at edd.newmexico.gov/HFFF.

Congratulations to these two local entrepreneural organizations serving Otero County. 

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