Farm to Table supports efforts to provide fresh, locally-produced fruits and vegetables to New Mexico schools and senior centers through work at the policy level. Efforts include:
New Mexico Grown Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for School Meals initiative: For more than a decade there has been a concerted effort, lead by Farm to Table in partnershp with many organizations and agencies, to develop the statewide New Mexico Grown Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for School Meals initiative. This Farm to Cafeteria program was developed to create opportunities for farmers to diversify their markets into schools and enhance New Mexico’s farming economy; for schools to be able to buy locally while meeting federal school meal rules; and to enhance the diets of school children while promoting healthy lifestyles and academic achievement. This program is now supported in the state's budget, with a dedicated program and staff at the New Mexico Public Education Department. A similar effort is being developed for to bring New Mexico grown fresh fruits and produce to New Mexico senior centers.
Farm to Table’s mission is to build a local, healthy, equitable and sustainable food system.
Core Value Statement:
Farm to Table firmly believes that food is a basic human right. We also affirm that access to regionally grown healthy and culturally relevant food is paramount to the wellbeing and sustainability of communities.
We see our role as a leadership organization facilitating collective vision, and creating stability and accountability in furthering policy goals.
Values Statement
A just, equitable, and sustainable food system is one that provides physical, economic and community health; regenerates, protects, and respects natural resources and animals; and ensures that all people live with dignity and freedom from oppression and exploitation.
To achieve this Farm to Table
Encourages the leadership, decision making, and community self –determination of small and medium scale farmers, ranchers, farm workers, food chain workers, indigenous people, low-income people, women, and communities of color;
Effects policy change, and systems and institutional practices to target resources and benefits towards historically disinvested communities with particular attention to the health and well-being of all people in these communities;
Supports systems and policies that promote resilient local food and farm economies grounded in sustainable agriculture and just distribution of economic benefits;
Supports environmental stewardship; and,
Respects and sustains cultural and indigenous food traditions.