Purchase and distribute local food targeting purchases from socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers

The ?nourish new mexico? Project will strengthen economic opportunities, and income security, for small to mid?sized socially disadvantaged producers through the establishment of partnerships with new mexico?S hunger relief network. To ensure that identified producers are engaged in procurements, the new mexico farmers? Marketing association will draw from its extensive network of specialty crop producers, expand its approved supplier program that serves institutional markets, and work with regional food hubs that prioritize small to mid?sized socially disadvantaged producers. Additional purchases will primarily occur in agricultural industries, meat, dairy, eggs, and value?added/manufactured foods, specifically, that are historically underrepresented in the state?S locally sourced food assistance programs. The new mexico association of food banks will manage the procurement and distribution of new mexico produced foods through the mobile food pantry program (tribal community?focused), farm to food pantry program, and fruit and vegetable prescription program. Approximately five regional food hubs will be identified to serve as supply chain partners to the state?S food banks. Producers engaged in the state?S approved supplier program, primarily small to mid?sized and socially disadvantaged, will also be targeted for direct delivery to food pantries statewide. Additional procurements will target meat products produced by tribal communities, including the native american beef program, navajo beef, and smaller demonstration projects led by taos pueblo, isleta pueblo, and jicarilla apache. Project partners will also work with broadline distributors to secure additional locally sourced products not available through priority vendors. In total 1,962 producers, 598 of which qualify as socially disadvantaged, will benefit from the project. Distribution efforts will benefit all 23 tribal communities in new mexico. Quarterly performance reports will be submitted to capture the number of producers, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, distribution sites, and underserved locations as well as funds expended for each category. Annual reports will provide percentages of new marketing opportunities and purchases distributed beyond current food distribution networks. A minimum of 3,375 food insecure new mexicans and 589 socially disadvantaged producers in all regions of the state will benefit from the program?S immediate and long-term impacts. The recipient plans to subaward funds to the new mexico farmers? Marketing association and the new mexico association of food banks. The subawardees will purchase and distribute the local food across the state of new mexico. In fiscal year 2023, agreement was amended with lfpa plus funding to increase the budget with additional funds authorized by the commodity credit corporation, and to increase the duration of the period of performance. As a result of the additional funding and extended period of performance, the recipient intends to focus on value-chain capacity building, values-based procurement, and distribution partner support; ultimately, securing state investment for the longevity of the project. The project will be renamed as the regional farm to food bank program and will strengthen economic opportunities, and income security, for small to mid?sized socially disadvantaged producers through the continued support of partnerships with new mexico?S hunger relief network.