New Mexico SM 18: "NM FOOD & FARMS & SCHOOL NUTRITION DAY"

Bill Text

SM 18
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A MEMORIAL
DECLARING FEBRUARY 6, 2020 "NEW MEXICO FOOD AND FARMS AND
SCHOOL NUTRITION DAY" IN THE SENATE.
WHEREAS, New Mexico has a vibrant food and farming
culture that is significant to the rural economy and provides
employment opportunities on farms; in direct, wholesale and
retail outlets; and in food processing, distribution and
value-added business; and
WHEREAS, studies have shown that for every one dollar
($1.00) that goes to local agricultural producers, one dollar
eighty cents ($1.80) is circulated in the local economy; and
WHEREAS, if New Mexico consumers purchased only fifteen
percent of their food from the state's farmers and ranchers,
annual farm income would increase by three hundred ninety-two
million dollars ($392,000,000); and
WHEREAS, an investment in children's health will help
stem the rise in childhood obesity in New Mexico, where
thirty-two percent of children are overweight or obese; and
WHEREAS, the 2017 "Map the Meal Gap" report from the
national anti-hunger organization feeding America indicates
that twenty-four percent of children, or one hundred twenty-
five thousand two hundred ten children in New Mexico, are at
risk for hunger; and
WHEREAS, school nutrition programs provided through the

SM 18
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national school lunch program, school breakfast program and
summer foodservice program have provided millions of healthy
and nutritious meals to school children throughout New Mexico
for more than seventy years; and
WHEREAS, school nutrition and summer meal programs serve
healthy meals, free or at low cost, to students in New Mexico
schools; and
WHEREAS, school nutrition programs not only feed hungry
children and support family well-being but also act as
"economic stabilizers" during economic downturns; and
WHEREAS, many children consume at least one-half of
their daily calories at school, and for many children, food
served at school is the only food they eat daily; and
WHEREAS, increased investment from the legislature
enables schools to feature New Mexico-grown produce, meet
federal nutrition requirements, serve more fresh fruits and
vegetables to children and support economic development
opportunities for local farmers, entrepreneurs and
communities; and
WHEREAS, over the last seven years, more than fifty-
eight school food authorities have purchased New Mexico-grown
produce for school meals with state funds, enhancing the
diets of three hundred thirty-three thousand three hundred
students, promoting healthier lifestyles and increasing
academic achievement, while close to two million dollars

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($2,000,000) has benefited New Mexico's farming economy; and
WHEREAS, seventy farmers' markets are providing
New Mexico products to forty-five thousand people each week
in thirty-two counties by direct sales and through the
supplemental nutrition assistance program, the special
supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and
children and the senior farmers' market nutrition program,
creating fresh food access for low-income individuals and
resulting in annual gross sales to farmers of close to eight
million dollars ($8,000,000) in 2019; and
WHEREAS, eighty double up food bucks outlets, including
farmers' markets, grocery stores, farm stands and mobile
markets, are making it more affordable for supplemental
nutrition assistance program participants across the state to
increase the amount of fresh, New Mexico-grown produce they
eat while providing nine hundred seventy New Mexico farmers
with more than one million dollars ($1,000,000) in electronic
benefits transfer sales during 2018; and
WHEREAS, a healthier population will help save the state
an additional three hundred twenty-four million dollars
($324,000,000) in obesity-related health care expenses and an
additional one billion two hundred million dollars
($1,200,000,000) in diabetes-related health care expenses;
and
WHEREAS, creating food hubs, produce processing and

SM 18
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distribution centers and community kitchens could accelerate
the economic growth of farmers and rural food entrepreneurs;
and
WHEREAS, the growing number of New Mexico community and
school gardens provides an important way for children and
families to engage in growing food and provides a way for
children to learn about nutrition and life sciences; and
WHEREAS, to achieve these goals, agricultural-, health-
and education-related organizations and agencies help
coordinate programs and make connections among health, the
built environment and policies through the support of
organizations such as food policy councils, health councils,
health equity partnerships, foodcorps, Americorps, 4-H, farm
to school programs and others;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF T