Golden Chile Awards, Food & Farms Day ceremony to honor food & farming champions
Awardees to be recognized for promoting locally grown food

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Grown Coalition, the New Mexico Food & Agriculture Policy Council, and Farm to Table NM are excited to host the first-ever, in-person Golden Chile Awards ceremony, in conjunction with Food & Farms Day, from 2 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St. NW, Albuquerque.

As a member of the NM Grown Coalition, the New Mexico Department of Health's (NMHealth) Obesity, Nutrition and Physical Activity Program partners with state and local organizations to increase healthy eating opportunities for preschoolers and students and support local food production.

The first joint-sponsored ceremony during Farm to School Month in October will honor 66 Golden Chile awardees for connecting children and seniors to locally grown food as well as five Food & Farms Day awardees for their outstanding efforts in supporting farming, conservation, farmer's markets and sustainable food systems.

Representatives from the Office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham as well as the Departments of Aging and Long-Term Services, Agriculture, Early Childhood Education & Care, NMHealth, and Public Education will join the statewide awardees for an invitation-only tour of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center's Entrepreneurial Complex at 2 p.m. followed by a 3 p.m. ceremony and reception.

"Congratulations to all the awardees for investing in the health of our children and families, and the economic vitality of our farmers and ranchers," said Kendal Chavez, Food and Hunger Advisor in the Office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. "Your support of local, nutritious food for preschoolers, students and seniors is building a healthier New Mexico."

Food & Farms Day celebrates statewide efforts that support people's access to nutritious food and strengthen New Mexico's local food, farming and ranching economy. The celebratory event highlights the intersection between health, sustainable food systems and the economic well-being of local farms and ranches.

The New Mexico Grown Coalition, a network of state agencies, nonprofit organizations and community-based groups, established the Golden Chile Awards Program with four recognition tiers – Seed, Sprout, Blossom and Golden Chile – to honor all levels of involvement in NM Grown programming.

This year, 15 organizations earned the top Golden Chile award, which requires applicants to achieve all aspects of the NM Grown Program: establish edible gardens; serve locally grown food; provide gardening lessons and nutrition education; promote NM Grown and align programming to the community's culture; offer taste testing and menu feedback; and engage staff, families and communities.

NMHealth's Healthy Kids Healthy Communities Program partners with the Early Childhood Education & Care Department (ECECD) to support preschools in providing more locally grown food, garden and nutrition education, and physical activity to their students. Most of the 15 preschools being honored this year achieved advanced awards.

Eighteen school districts will be honored for serving thousands of students locally grown food each year, in addition to offering healthy eating activities and education. The 14 senior centers earning awards this year are located in such counties as Bernalillo, Guadalupe, Los Alamos, Luna, San Juan, Sandoval and Santa Fe. The Aging and Long-Term Services Department supports the centers to buy and serve New Mexico Grown food in senior meals.

The New Mexico Grown Program ensures that farms and gardens supplying fresh produce for school and senior meals follow food safety practices. This is the third-year food producers could earn awards for providing community education, selling food to local institutions, and following water and soil conservation practices as well as sustainable and organic farming practices.

The 2024 Golden Chile Awardees this year are:

Golden Chile (mature and fruitful program):

Desert Verde Farm in Santa Fe
North Valley Organics
Rancho de Santa Fe
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
Farmington Municipal Schools Childcare Center Sponsorship
Future Generations, LLC, in Clovis
New Mexico Early Learning Academy in Albuquerque
Elida Municipal Schools
Farmington Municipal Schools
Roswell Independent School District
Blanco & Lower Valley senior centers
Sandoval County Senior Program

Blossom (program reaching maturity):

Anthony Youth Farm
Elder's Greenhouse & Garden in Aztec
Full Circle Mushrooms
Gatherings Gardens in Bloomfield
Nacimiento Natural Products in Cuba
Ramel Family Farms in Raton
Stark Family Farms in Aztec
Sweet Mercy Farms in Albuquerque
Twin Rivers Farm in Roswell
Zia Queenbees Farm & Field Institute
La Semilla Food Center in Anthony
Cuidando Los Niños in Albuquerque
East Gate Kids in Albuquerque
Isleta Pueblo Head Start & Child Care
My Kiddos Too in Roswell
Pueblo of Zuni Head Start
Serendipity Day School in Albuquerque
Western Heights Learning Center in Albuquerque
Albuquerque Public Schools
Cuba Independent Schools
Dexter Consolidated Schools
Portales Municipal Schools
Adelante Development Center in Albuquerque
City of Albuquerque Senior Affairs
City of Santa Rosa – Campos Senior Center
Deming Luna County Commission on Aging
Los Alamos Retired & Senior Organization

Sprout (program growing strong):

Blue Box Farm in Villanueva
Morrow Farms in Hatch
Heart of the Desert Pistachios & Wines in Alamogordo
Little Footprints in Hatch
St. Mark's Montessori School in Albuquerque
Bernalillo Public Schools
Bloomfield Municipal Schools
Christine Duncan Heritage Academy in Albuquerque