New Mexico to host Farm to Cafeteria Food Conference

SANTA FE – The National Farm to School Network will bring its annual National Farm to Cafeteria Conference to Albuquerque this year, spotlighting New Mexico’s leadership in providing students with local, healthy food.

The event will gather hundreds of advocates, educators, farmers and community leaders from across the country to promote local, nutritious food choices in schools. The conference will be held Dec. 1 through Dec. 4 at the Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 2nd Street NW.

The theme of the conference is “Rooted in Culture, Growing for the Future.” Rita Condon, manager of New Mexico Department of Health’s (NMDOH) Obesity, Nutrition and Physical Activity Program, will be among the guest presenters, while keynote speakers include Ron Finley, the “Gangsta Gardner” and Mariah Gladson (Blackfeet, Cherokee), founder of Indigikitchen.

“It’s an honor to have the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference held in New Mexico,” said Health Secretary Gina DeBlassie. “The conference highlights Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s health food initiatives for New Mexico and includes programs on building a farm-to-school garden system and teaching farmers how to help support that system, which will benefit farmers and schools in the state and country.”

“We chose New Mexico as our host site because it stands as a national model for turning grassroots, community-led food justice efforts into real policy,” said Passion Rutledge, finance and operations director for the National Farm to School Network. “From Healthy Universal School Meals program to statewide local purchasing initiatives and deep partnerships with Tribal communities, the country has a lot to learn from the people of New Mexico.”

In 2022, the governor, with the support of the Legislature, launched the Food Initiative, supporting food security and economic resiliency for farmers and ranchers. In 2023, the governor launched the Healthy Universal School Meals program, which increased spending on school meals by 20% and boosted participation in school meals by over 8%, according to a recent Legislative Finance Committee report.

The conference features over 40 workshops, farm and school field trips, hands-on classes, and the presentation of the Golden Chile Awards, which celebrate excellence in farm-to- cafeteria work.

For more information about the event, including how to register, visit 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference.

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Nuevo México será la sede de la Conferencia de Alimentos de la Granja a la Cafetería