Schools, senior centers & farmers honored for promoting New Mexico-grown food
SANTA FE, NM – A record-breaking number of awardees have been honored at the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque for their efforts to provide statewide New Mexico-grown food to children and seniors.
The Golden Chile Awards – established by the New Mexico Grown Coalition in 2021 – celebrate statewide efforts aimed at promoting good nutrition and supporting the state’s farming economy. The New Mexico Department of Health is among the state agencies and community organizations and individuals working together to strengthen community food systems across New Mexico.
“We are so pleased to honor all the participants who have helped New Mexico create a robust local food system that expands the market for farmers and ranchers while providing nutritious food to children and seniors,” said Kendal Chavez, Early Childhood Education & Care deputy secretary. “For attendees of the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference it is a great opportunity to see for themselves the people behind the success of New Mexico’s nation-leading food initiative.”
The New Mexico Grown Coalition established four recognition tiers for the Golden Chile Awards – Seed, Sprout, Blossom, and Golden Chile – to honor all levels of involvement.
The 2025 Golden Chile awardees are:
Golden Chile (mature and fruitful program): 20 total (seven food producers, two food hubs, three preschools, four schools and four senior centers)
- Anthony Youth Farm
- Desert Verde Farm in Santa Fe
- Full Circle Mushrooms in La Mesa
- Gathings Gardens in Bloomfield
- KC Gardens in Fruitland
- Khalsa Family Farms in Española
- The Veggie Shack in Portales
- Frontier Food Hub in Silver City
- San Juan College Harvest Food Hub
- A Gold Star Academy & Child Development Center in Farmington
- Christina Kent Early Childhood Center in Albuquerque
- Future Generations, LLC, in Clovis
- Elida Municipal Schools
- Las Cruces Public Schools
- Portales Municipal Schools
- Roswell Independent School District
- San Juan County – Blanco & Lower Valley senior centers
- Campos Senior Center in Santa Rosa
- City of Albuquerque’s Senior Affairs
- Sandoval County Senior Services
Blossom (program reaching maturity): 31 total (five food producers, 10 preschools, nine schools, seven senior centers)
- Bluffs Farm & Stark Family farm in Bloomfield
- Edgars Farm in Farmington
- Heyash Farms in Laguna
- New Mexico Hair Sheep Producers in Monticello
- Twin Rivers Farm in Roswell
- Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces
- Count Your Blessings Preschool in Moriarty
- East Gate Kids Early Learning Center in Albuquerque
- ECHO Aztec Preschool
- Kidzo Children’s Christian Development Center in Clovis
- Kingdom Builders Preschool & Daycare in Albuquerque
- La Esperanza Preschool in Rio Rancho
- My Kiddos Too in Roswell
- New Mexico Early Learning Academy in Albuquerque/East Mountains
- Western Heights Learning Center in Albuquerque
- Aztec Municipal Schools
- Bernalillo Public Schools
- Bloomfield Municipal Schools
- Clovis Municipal Schools
- Cobre Consolidated School District
- Cuba Independent Schools
- Dexter Consolidated Schools
- Gallup McKinley County Schools
- Hozho Academy in Gallup
- Aztec Senior Center
- Adelante Development Center in Albuquerque
- City of Las Cruces Senior Programs
- Los Alamos Retired & Senior Organization
- Meals on Wheels NM in Albuquerque
- Rio Arriba County Senior Services
- Santa Fe County Senior Services
Sprout (program growing strong): 26 total (two food producers, one food hub, six preschools, 11 schools, six senior centers)
- Heart of the Desert Pistachios & Wine in Alamogordo
- New Mexico Beef in Anton Chico
- Pueblo Fruits Food Hub in Albuquerque
- Arcoiris Development Center in Sunland Park
- Kids Kountry Place in Las Cruces
- La Vida Felicidad Early Learning Center in Los Lunas
- Pueblo of Isleta Head Start & Child Care
- Region 9 Head Start & Early Head Start in Ruidoso
- Southwest Child Care Early Learning Center in Albuquerque
- Albuquerque Public Schools
- Los Lunas Public Schools
- McCurdy Charter School
- Moriarty Edgewood School District
- Mountainair Public Schools
- Pojoaque Valley Schools
- Rio Rancho Public Schools
- Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools
- Silver Consolidated Schools
- Turquoise Trail Charter School in Santa Fe
- West Las Vegas School District
- Bernalillo County – Parks, Recreation & Open Space
- Deming Luna County Commission on Aging
- Las Cumbres Community Services in Española
- La Loma Senior Center in Anton Chico
- Puerto de Luna Senior Center
Seed (program has potential): 16 total (five preschools, eight schools, three senior centers)
- Little Castle Learning and Development Center in Artesia
- Little Footprints in Hatch
- New Mexico Children First in Sunland Park
- Precious Moments Early Learning Center in Albuquerque
- The Hive Education in Sunland Park
- Albuquerque School of Excellence
- Belen Consolidated Schools
- Estancia Municipal Schools
- Floyd Municipal Schools
- Hobbs Municipal Schools
- Maxwell Municipal Schools
- Raton Public Schools
- Taos Municipal Schools
- City of Las Vegas Senior Program
- Eunice Senior Center
- Town of Vaughn Senior Center
School districts had the highest participation in the Golden Chile Awards program this year, with 32 earning awards. About half of the 24 preschools being honored this year achieved advanced awards.
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