Background Information for Anti-Hunger Efforts in New Mexico

 From New Mexico First and the The Food, Hunger, Water, Agriculture Policy Workgroup

• Pre-pandemic New Mexico had the highest child hunger rates in the nation. 1 in 4 children in New Mexico are struggling with hunger. Our elders are not faring much better.[1] These numbers are even higher during the pandemic with rural and frontier counties hardest hit.
• From late March through April 2020, the two largest food banks in New Mexico spent $1.2M and $450K on purchased food to respond to the increasing demand for support from the emergency food sector. Over 85% of Food Bank funding is from private philanthropy and individual donations.[2]
• A significant majority of New Mexico's counties have food insecurity at rates greater than the national average.[3]
• Most families participating in SNAP in New Mexico have one or more household members that are employed.[4]
• Unemployment in New Mexico as of September 2020 was 88,844 people or 9.3%, while average unemployment was 7.9% in September for the US as whole. [5]^,[6]
• While agriculture is a major economic driver in the state, over 95% of the food New Mexicans consume comes from out of state, and nearly all food produced in New Mexico leaves the state. A stronger local food system would simultaneously help combat food insecurity and hunger while keeping more dollars in our local communities.[7]
• Rates of food insecurity and hunger in New Mexico reflect the need for cross-sector approaches.
  

Therefore, our policy priorities are to:

1. Strengthen local food production and distribution.
2. Increase state investments in the emergency food sector.
3. Increase the monthly food budget for families of low-income
4. Use an equity lens to make sure that the needs of all are considered within the context of community and culture.

Presentation to the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC): December 18
 

Please plan to support by viewing the meeting at www.nmlegis.gov and/or submitting public comment.
For a list of committee members, click here.
More information will be shared as it becomes available.

Footnotes:

[1] Rick Nathanson. Journal Staff Writer. May 2019 "New Mexico Again Leads the Nation in Child Hunger" https://www.abqjournal.com/1310364/new-mexico-again-leads-nation-in-child-hunger.html, retrieved November 2019

[1] Reports from Roadrunner Food Bank and The Food Depot, April 2020

[1] Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap 2017, https://map.feedingamerica.org/county/2017/overall/new-mexico, retrieved November 2019.

[1] USDA Profile of SNAP Households, 

https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-files/NewMexico.pdf, retrieved November 2019.

[1] NM Department of Workforce Solutions, https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Researchers/Data/Labor-Force-Unemployment, retrieved 11.16.20

[1] US Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/laus.pdf, retrieved 11.16.20

[1] NM Department of Agriculture, 2010 as referenced in https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR675/welcome.html, retrieved 11.16.20