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