Interim Committee Addresses Food & Hunger

 

Observations from a meeting of the  Water & Natural Resources Interim Committee  Reps. Bill Rehm, Tara Lujan, Cristina Parajón, Sen. Liz Stefanics, Sen. Pat Woods, Rep. Debra Sariñana From Carlos Navarro Members of the State Legislature often perform some of their duties outside of the regular 30 or 60-day session (or any special session called by the governor). Legislators take part in interim committees to learn more about the issues that might be coming before them in the (jam-packed) regular session. While some committee meetings begin as early as April or May, most of the meetings occur between June and November. Legislators often invite officials from the administration as well as community representatives, organizational leaders and citizens (in this case several farmers and environmental advocates) to become more informed about relevant issues..  Wearing multiple hats (Farm to Table, Interfaith Hunger Coalition, Food Initiative, Interfaith Power & Light-New Mexico), I had the privilege of attending a July meeting of the interim committee on Water and Natural Resources, which took place at the CNM Workforce Training Center in Albuquerque. Here is the agenda for the two-day hearing. The first day addressed water, environment and climate issues. I attended the second day, which addressed food, farming and hunger.  Observations, July 23 Civil Dialogue: In this day of political polarization, it was quite refreshing to listen to polite and informed dialogue. Even though different points of view and approaches were presented, the comments all had one theme in mind: We must take actions that benefit the residents of New Mexico.  First Panel Deals with Policy: I took most of my notes after the first panel, which included three members of Gov. Lujan Grisham's administration: hunger advisor, Kendal Chavez; Erin Ortigosa (Economic Development);and Jason New (Agriculture). The fourth panelist was Susan Wilger, past chair of the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council.  The NMFAPC is a project of Farm to Table (of which I am a board member. (Photo: Sen. Pete Campos, Rep. Marianne Matthews, Rep. Susan Herrera) Following up on Hunger Initiative (Background) It's been several years since then State Rep. Melanie Stansbury shepherded through an omnibus legislative initiative that sought to address hunger in New Mexico in a broad manner (similar to the federal farm bill); That  2021 initiative did not move forward because the omnibus bill  was not accompanied by budget allocations.  The next step by the coalition (community groups, agricultural organizations, state legislators) was to work more closely with the governor's office to ensure that our programs were included in the general budget  This effort helped move the "food initiative" forward. Our collaborative efforts include the participation of Kendal Chavez and several Cabinet officials and staff. And the list of organizations, farm groups and others supporting the initiative continues to grow.  What's On Your Mind?: The discussions in the Water and Natural Resources Committee are important, as they give us a window into what legislators are thinking as we craft the next set of requests for the food initiative. Here are a few issues brought up by legislators during the question and answer period following the first panel. Sen. Liz Stefanics (Bernalillo, Lincoln, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Torrance & Valencia Counties) Suggested that the administration and the legislature examine the quality of food available at senior centers. A way to address this is create a trust fund. Also urged state subsidies to encourage the establishment of grocery stores in small rural communities   (Erin Ortigosa of the State Economic Development said increasing grocery stories in rural areas was a goal the New Mexico Healthy Food Financing Fund)  Sen. Pat Woods (Curry, Quay & Union Counties)  Praised the double-up food bucks program, but suggested that users be allowed to use the benefits for proteins, i.e. meats. (Denise Miller from the New Mexico Farmers Marketing Association, which manages Double-Up Food bucks in New Mexico), said federal guidelines prohibit the use of double-up food bucks for protein. Sen. Woods  Also urged the state to promote more veterinarians in rural areas). Rep. Kathleen Cates (Bernalillo & Sandoval Counties) Raised concerns about "historically low" labor shortages in agriculture. She said she would be willing to pay more for chile if we are able to address this difficult issue.  Rep. Gail Armstrong (Catron, Sierra, Socorro & Valencia Counties) Echoed Sen. Woods' concerns/suggestions about veterinary shortages in rural areas, suggesting that the state ease debt-relief rules for veterinary education. She also endorsed the inclusion of proteins in the Double-Up Food Bucks program. She supported the idea that excess meat from game be made available though the food assistance channels. She also urged greater geographical equity in the approval of projects promoted via the New Mexico Healthy Food Financing Fund) Rep. Tara Lujan (Santa Fe County)  Endorsed the concept of regenerative agriculture,  a holistic approach to farming that aims to improve soil health, water, and biodiversity, and the climate. This approach is known to increase farm productivity and profitability.  Rep. Susan Herrera (Rio Arriba, Sandoval, Santa Fe & Taos Counties) Suggested rural infrastructure is inadequate. She pointed to a recent incident where the Rio Chama flooded and damaged nearby farming communities. She also endorsed the concept of harvesting elk meat and sending it to local food banks. She pointed to a successful program in Wyoming.  Rep. Andrea Romero (Santa Fe County) Asked the question of whether we are able to meet demand in the state with current agricultural production.  Photo: Meredith Lorenz, the Food Depot, Tsiporah Nephesh (New Mexico Thrives), Rep. Kathleen Cates, James Skeet (Spirit Farm), Rep. Debra Sariñana, and Athena Christodoulou (candidate for NM Senate District 21) This and That  The second and third panels were also important, in that they lifted up several key components of the hunger initiative, including the role of farmers markets in addressing hunger in New Mexico (particularly the Double-Up Food bucks program, which uses the SNAP program to help low-income families gain access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Here are some points brought up by a handful of those who testified.  Denise Miller, New Mexico Farmers Marketing Association. The Double-up Food Bucks program has a broad reach in New Mexico, connecting 800 farmers with 80 growers markets and distributors and about 8,400 beneficiaries. She also discussed FreshRx, a produce prescription program of the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association that provides free fruits and vegetables to nutritionally-at-risk patients and their families living in tribal, rural, and underserved communities throughout the state. A third topic she brought up was New Mexico Grown Approved Supplier Program (supporting institutional sales across the state). Watch for more extensive coverage of the latter two programs. Jason New, New Mexico Department of Agriculture. Thirty three percent of New Mexico farms are less than 9 acres. Ninety percent of farms in the state are family owned.  Susan Wilger, New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council: presented on the soon-to-be-released New Mexico Food Charter, which offers a practice-based approach to addressing food security in an ever-changing climate. The document suggests investments in local production and local food consumption, with an emphasis on equitable and sustainable practices.