Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Contributing Partners
Active Living by Design (HKHC National Program Office in Chapel Hill, NC)
City of Bayard, New Mexico
Cobre Consolidated School District
Farm to Table
Gila Regional Medical Center Foundation
Gila Resources Information Project
Grant County Community Health Council
Grant County Cooperative Extension (New Mexico State University Extension)
Grant County Public Health Office (Health Promotion Team and Diabetes Public Health Nurses)
Grant County Fitness and Nutrition Community Action Group (FAN-C)
Grant County Food Policy Council
Grant County, New Mexico
Grant County Trails Group
Hidalgo Medical Services
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
San Lorenzo Research, LLC
Silver City Food Cooperative
Silver Consolidated School District
Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments
Southwest New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce
Town of Hurley, New Mexico
Town of Silver City, New Mexico
Transtria (HKHC Program Evaluator in St. Louis, MO)
The Volunteer Center of Grant County
The Wellness Coalition
Village of Santa Clara, New Mexico
Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities is a four-year initiative funded by the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation to reduce childhood obesity through policy, system, and environmental
change. Our office is located at 214 N. Black Street, Silver City, New Mexico, 88061 or we may
be reached by calling (575) 388-1198. www.GrantCountyHKHC.com
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................. Page 5
Background ...................................................................................................................................... Page 5
Why Local?. ..................................................................................................................................... Page 6
Purpose............................................................................................................................................ Page 7
Associated Research ........................................................................................................................ Page 7
Study Area ....................................................................................................................................... Page 7
Methodology ............................................................................................................................ Page 9
Interviews ........................................................................................................................................ Page 9
Focus Groups ................................................................................................................................... Page 9
Surveys ............................................................................................................................................ Page 9
Geographic Information System Mapping ...................................................................................... Page 9
Secondary Research ........................................................................................................................ Page 9
Findings ................................................................................................................................... Page 10
Local Food, Public Health, and Quality of Life ............................................................................... Page 10
Availability and Affordability ......................................................................................................... Page 11
Consumer Purchasing Patterns ..................................................................................................... Page 13
Land Suitability and Soils ............................................................................................................... Page 15
Climate and Watershed ................................................................................................................. Page 16
Labor .............................................................................................................................................. Page 23
Market Size and Growth Potential ................................................................................................ Page 23
Perceptions About Scaling Up Production—Barriers and Opportunities ...................................... Page 27
Barriers .......................................................................................................................................... Page 28
Opportunities ................................................................................................................................ Page 30
Local Farm Profile: Townside Farm ............................................................................................... Page 32
Political Climate and Community Support .................................................................................... Page 35
Policies and Plans Referencing Local Food Systems ...................................................................... Page 38
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... Page 46
Appendices .............................................................................................................................. Page 48
Appendix A: Policy Survey Instrument: Interview Questions........................................................ Page 48
Appendix B: Food Producer Survey Instrument: Focus Group Questions .................................... Page 51
Appendix C: Food Producer Survey Instrument: Short Questionnaire ......................................... Page 53
Appendix D: Food Producer Survey Instrument: Producer Survey ............................................... Page 55
Appendix E: Food Vendor Survey Instrument: Store/Venue Audit ............................................... Page 57
Appendix F: Food and Agriculture Organizations in Grant County, New Mexico ......................... Page 61
Endnotes ................................................................................................................................. Page 64
Tables, Maps, and Figures
Table 1: U.S. Fruit and Vegetable Retail Expenditures, 2010 ........................................................ Page 14
Table 2: Land Use and Ownership in Grant County, New Mexico ................................................ Page 15
Table 3: Selected Water Flow Rates in the Gila-Mimbres-San Francisco River Basins ................. Page 19
Table 4: Agriculture Profile of Grant County, New Mexico ........................................................... Page 23
Table 5: Market Value of Agricultural Products Produced in Grant County, New Mexico ........... Page 25
Table 6: Producers’ Ranking of Opportunities to Expand Agriculture .......................................... Page 35
Table 7: Survey of Municipal, County, and Regional Plans for References to Food and Agriculture ........ Page 39
Map A: Southwest New Mexico Regional Drive Time Map............................................................. Page 8
Map B: USDA Food Deserts in Grant County, New Mexico ........................................................... Page 11
Map C: General Soil Map, Grant County, New Mexico ................................................................. Page 16
Map D: Plant Hardiness Zone Map, New Mexico, 2012 ................................................................ Page 17
Map E: Average Annual Precipitation, New Mexico, 1971-2000 .................................................. Page 18
Map F: Community Gardens in Silver City (insert) and Grant County, New Mexico..................... Page 26
Map G: Existing and Potential Markets in Grant County, New Mexico ........................................ Page 27
Figure 1: Perceived Barriers to Eating Healthy .............................................................................. Page 13
Figure 2: Grant County Food Production (Spring 2010) ................................................................ Page 34
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Introduction
of the food we consume in our region of
southwest New Mexico is not grown or
produced here. Rather, it is grown
elsewhere—usually a thousand or more
miles away—and transported via some
combination of airplane, truck, train, or
boat to our region. The natural resources
provided by agricultural lands today are
often harnessed faster than they can be
replenished. Perhaps a more immediate
threat to our food security, however, are
the depletion and rising costs of the
resources (various forms of fuel) used to
bring food from far away to our local
grocery stores. As the cost of these fuel
resources increases, so does the cost of the
food we buy. Despite enormous advances in
technology, communities of southwestern
New Mexico face nearly the same situation
that our land’s previous inhabitants faced:
our use of natural resources is
unsustainable and ultimately threatens our
food security. Tragically, this situation is
BACKGROUND
In his seminal book Collapse, author Jared
Diamond examined the downfall of early
inhabitants in the region known today as
southwestern New Mexico. According to
Diamond’s research, the Mimbres and
Mogollon peoples underwent collapses,
reorganization, and abandonment within
the period of 1100-1500 A.D. due to
environmental problems and cultural
responses to lack of water and food. The
Mimbres planted crops only in areas with
reliable springs and groundwater tables—a
strategy that worked well in years of good
rainfall and resulted in increased food
production in floodplains and eventually a
doubling of their population. When drought
conditions suddenly returned, however, the
Mimbres society collapsed under the stress
of trying to feed a larger population beyond
the means of what the environment could
support. A similar fate befell the Mogollons,
who farmed at higher elevations and were
subject to marginal growing conditions
(Diamond notes soil nutrient exhaustion
and cold temperatures) for sustained
agriculture.1
For the purposes of this report,
“local food system” will refer to
the network of resources—
human, economic, political,
natural, and otherwise—
involved in growing,
producing, transporting,
selling, promoting, and
consuming food that is grown
or produced within a threehour drive of Silver City, NM.
Today, we find ourselves in a scarily similar
situation. As with these two past
civilizations, natural resources appear to be
the vulnerable, weak link in our food
system. Unlike these two past civilizations
(and essentially all past civilizations), most
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
becoming increasingly common throughout
the world.
socio-cultural networks surrounding food,
environmental degradation (locally and
elsewhere), and the need for nutritious,
affordable, and accessible whole foods to
improve public health and wellbeing.
As we move forward, we essentially have
two choices: we can either continue to pour
resources (financial and otherwise) into our
nation’s dominant model of food
production and distribution, or we can
devote more of our many resources toward
creating and maintaining a sustainable local
food system that meets our food-related
needs to the greatest degree possible. This
assessment will provide information
relating to the latter choice—one that aims
to strengthen the local food system of
southwestern New Mexico.
Like other regions of the country that view
strong local food systems as one powerful
solution to many problems created by
industrial food systems, Grant County has a
growing demand for food that is locally
grown, produced, marketed, and
consumed. Consider the following statistics:

In Grant County, if every resident spent
$10 a week on local food purchases, this
would amount to over $15 million in
annual gross sales towards the local
economy.2

In the United States, direct-to-consumer
marketing amounted to $1.2 billion in
current dollar sales (0.4 percent of total
agricultural sales) in 2007, according to
the 2007 Census of Agriculture,
compared with $551 million in 1997.3

The number of farmers markets in the
United States rose to 5,274 in 2009, up
from 2,756 in 1998 and 1,755 in 1994,
according to the USDA’s Agricultural
Marketing Service.4 In Grant County, the
number of farmers markets quadrupled
in the past five years from one in Silver
City to three other seasonal farmers
markets in Mimbres, Bayard, and
Gila/Cliff.

In 2005, there were 1,144 Community
Supported Agriculture organizations
WHY LOCAL?
If the lessons of the past hold true today,
why should we support local agriculture in a
less-than-ideal high desert climate? What is
the current state of the many resources
required in Grant County to develop a
thriving local food system? These are the
questions that frame this assessment. It is
our hope that what follows will become a
valuable asset and tool for those individuals
and organizations wishing to contribute
their skills and efforts to building a robust
local food system here in southwestern
New Mexico.
Factors that often influence the need to
expand a local food system include
increasing costs of food and fuel, rising
greenhouse gas emissions, weak economy
and lack of job growth, lack of an
emergency/secure food supply, declining
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
(CSAs) in operation in the United States,
up from 400 in 2001 and 2 in 1986,
according to a study by the nonprofit,
nongovernmental organization The
National Center for Appropriate
Technology. In early 2010, estimates
exceeded 1,400.5 In 2011, several Grant
County growers offered CSA
subscriptions to the public, including
operations in the Silver City and Mining
District areas. This number is expected
to increase in 2012.

and local markets in rural southwest New
Mexico to address food insecurity and
public health issues such as childhood
obesity. In the course of the assessment,
however, it became evident that
environmental concerns, economic
development, and socio-cultural issues also
play key roles in the food landscape. This
assessment is intended to be a resource for
those seeking to better understand and
identify courses of action that mobilize
public-private partnerships and strengthen
sustainable food and agriculture in our
region.
The number of Farm to School programs
in the United States, which use local
farms as food suppliers for school meal
programs, increased to 2,095 in 2009,
up from 400 in 2004 and 2 in the 19961997 school year, according to the
National Farm to School Network.6 In
New Mexico, the Albuquerque and
Santa Fe public school systems purchase
local products such as apples. Grant
County piloted its first ever Farm to
School project in September 2011,
facilitated by Healthy Kids, Healthy
Communities, feeding local carrots and
cucumbers to over 1,000 Elementary
school children.
ASSOCIATED RESEARCH
This assessment builds on information
previously collected by other entities within
New Mexico and around the United States.
These sources include Farm to Table,
Dreaming New Mexico, Crossroads
Resource Center, La Semilla, New Mexico
Organic Association, and federal sources
such as the USDA 2007 Agricultural Census,
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, USDA Food
Atlas, and the National Association of
Development Organizations.
STUDY AREA
PURPOSE
Grant County, New Mexico, is the primary
geographic focus area of this study. Grant
County is located in rural southwestern
New Mexico and has a population of
29,514.7 For the purposes of this study,
“local” is defined as food produced within a
three-hour drive of Silver City, New Mexico
(Map A).
The Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities
partnership, housed within the Grant
County Community Health Council,
conducted this assessment with generous
support from the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation. The initial intent was to explore
the feasibility of expanding local agriculture
7
MAP A: Southwest New Mexico Regional Drive Time Map
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Methodology
groups held in Mimbres, Cliff/Gila, and
Silver City (Appendix B).
The Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities
(HKHC) partnership employed several
methods and tools to collect data about the
local food system in Grant County, NM. The
primary sources of data include a mixture of
both quantitative and qualitative measures.
Secondary data from local, regional, State,
and federal resources were also included to
provide a broader picture of our local food
system.
SURVEYS
Three original survey instruments were
developed to assess local food production
and sales in Spring and Fall 2010.
1. Short Questionnaire for Producers
(Appendix C)
2. Producer Survey (Appendix D)
3. Food Vendor Survey (Appendix E)
INTERVIEWS
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM
MAPPING (GIS)
The HKHC Project Coordinator conducted
30 interviews with public officials, school
administrators, and local government staff
to assess barriers to healthy eating and
physical activity. Qualitative data from the
key informant interviews were gathered
about the former and are included in this
report. Additionally, a graduate student
conducted 12 family interviews for the
HKHC partnership to determine community
perceptions about nutrition, eating and
food purchasing habits, and other topics
contributing to or detracting from healthy
eating in Grant County. Interviews were
conducted in April and May 2010 (Appendix
A).
HKHC utilized in-house resources and
partners at Hidalgo Medical Services to
analyze local food system patterns and
display data through visual representations.
Maps were created using ArcGIS v. 10, a
geographic information mapping system.
SECONDARY RESEARCH
HKHC also obtained secondary research
from outside organizations and entities
such as Farm to Table, Dreaming New
Mexico, Crossroads Resource Center, La
Semilla, New Mexico Organic Association,
and federal sources such as the USDA 2007
Agricultural Census, US Bureau of Labor
Statistics, USDA Food Atlas, and the
National Association of Development
Organizations.
FOCUS GROUPS
In March and April 2010, HKHC facilitated
three focus groups with area producers to
determine perceptions, barriers, and
opportunities related to expanding local
food production. Staff and partners asked
identical questions at the three focus
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Findings
LOCAL FOOD, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND QUALITY OF LIFE
Grant County is a rural community facing numerous challenges in providing basic
community services to all its citizens. Maintaining transportation networks, adequate housing,
utilities (primarily natural gas and electricity), sewer/wastewater, and potable water are the
primary concerns of local officials. Not often considered in policy-making and planning is access
to nutritious, affordable food.
As a result, two areas in Grant County are currently considered “food deserts” by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (Map B). Over a quarter of the County’s population is lowincome and live more than one mile from a grocery store.8 There are approximately 23 fastfood restaurants and 14 convenience stores within the
County, but only five grocery stores and one
supercenter grocery store; most of these are located in
A food desert is defined as “an
Silver City. In 2008, 25 stores were SNAP-authorized
area in the United States with
and four were WIC-authorized.9 Both school districts in
limited access to affordable
Grant County (Silver Consolidated and Cobre
and nutritious food,
Consolidated) participate in the school lunch and
particularly such an area
breakfast program, including the summer meal
composed of predominately
program. In 2008, 66 percent of students were eligible
lower income neighborhoods
for free or reduced-price lunches, which comes as no
and communities.”
surprise given the child poverty rate in the same year
-USDA Economic Research
was 29 percent.10 Furthermore, we are dependent on
Service, 2009
two interstate highway systems (I-10 and I-90) and
three State highways (NM Highways 90, 180, and 152)
to deliver food on a weekly basis. There have been occasions when the County has been
completely cut off from these networks due to inclement weather, leaving its citizens
vulnerable without an emergency food supply.11
Not surprisingly, diet-related public health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and
heart disease are on the rise in Grant County. The low-income obesity rate among preschoolers
was 11 percent in 2009;12 however, body mass index (BMI) trends among Kindergartners and
fourth graders in the past five years show overweight levels remaining steady at 31 and 40
percent respectively. If these rates remain constant, nearly half of all children in Grant County
will be overweight or obese by the time they enter middle school.13 Approximately 8 percent of
adults have diabetes, and heart disease is the leading cause of death in Grant County.14
10
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
MAP B: USDA Food Deserts in Grant County, New Mexico
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, 2011.
AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY
Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities conducted a survey of the 25 food vendors across
Grant County in Spring 2010 to determine the cost and accessibility of common food items
(both those produced locally and non-locally). Food vendors ranged from large chain stores,
such as Walmart, to medium- and small-scale retailers, such as the local grocery store chain
Food Basket, convenience stores, and one farmers market.
Only eight of 25 vendors carried fresh vegetables and 13 of 25 vendors sold fresh fruits.
The majority of these vendors are located in Silver City. Canned fruits and vegetables were
more readily available than fresh produce. Of the vendors surveyed, 84 percent sold milk
and/or cheese. Meat alternatives, such as eggs, beans, or tofu, were more readily available for
purchase than unpackaged meat (butcher-cut and -wrapped). Less than one-third of food
vendors in Grant County sold local products including tortillas, chips, eggs, fruit, meat, pinto
beans, chile, vegetables, salsa, and herbs. This number is higher when farmers markets are in
season. It is more common to find lottery tickets, pet food, gasoline, office supplies, or alcoholic
beverages at these food vendors than fresh vegetables.15
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Consumers often get more for their money, solely in terms of caloric intake, when
buying less-healthy food items. For example, a survey of food products at the Silver City
Walmart found 16:
 Three 2-liter bottles of Coca Cola® ($3.00 total) or one gallon of 2% milk ($3.47)
 One 14 oz. package of Chips Ahoy!® cookies ($2.50) or one 6 oz. container of
raspberries ($2.50)
 One Snickers® bar ($1.00) or 4 apples ($1.00)
 One Great Value® frozen pizza ($3.98) or one 4 lb. bag of oranges ($4.98)
 One box of Great Value® Mac & Cheese ($.68) or 1 green bell pepper ($.78) or one 1
lb. bag of carrots ($.78)
 One 12 oz. Great Value® original potato chips ($1.98) or one 3 lb. cantaloupe melon
($1.98)
While unhealthy food may be financially cheaper for consumers in the short-term, the
long-term costs of consuming such foods are generally undesirable and include numerous
serious health conditions and illnesses, such as diabetes, obesity (childhood and adult), heart
disease, and hypertension. The survey did not take into account the environmental and social
costs accrued to produce, package, ship, market and sell unhealthy food items. Unhealthy foods
generally have a longer shelf life compared to healthier food items, such as fresh produce,
which may affect how frequently consumers must shop in order to buy healthier foods. For
consumers with limited transportation options in rural areas of Grant County, this can be a
barrier to eating healthier food. Additional research is needed to quantify consumer spending
and vendor costs associated with carrying fresh food items with a relatively short shelf life.
Despite the abundance of
cheap, easily available unhealthy
food items in Grant County, there
were some encouraging results from
the food vendor assessments.
Surveyors noted that over half of
vendors had cold storage or had
room for cold storage in their
stores—which means that the space
or infrastructure needed to keep
produce fresh, high-quality, and
attractive to consumers is, in many cases, available.
12
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Survey results revealed that the majority of stores that offer fresh produce are located
in Silver City, a fairly central location in Grant County accessible by automobile, bicycle, foot, or
public transportation. Knowing this, public health and food planners can target their efforts in
other areas of Grant County in order to make healthy items more accessible to outlying rural
communities. There are a number of venues that offer healthier alternatives and accept federal
food assistance program dollars. Local food retailers where federal food assistance dollars are
accepted include farmers markets, food cooperatives, and grocery stores.
Finally, there is a perception among some local policymakers and families that healthy
food and local food in particular is expensive and only for the elite. Figure 1 shows the most
common barriers identified to eating nutritious food in over 40 key informant interviews with
policymakers and families. Key informants cited availability and affordability as being among
the top barriers preventing healthier eating in Grant County.17
FIGURE 1: Perceived Barriers to Eating Healthy
CONSUMER PURCHASING PATTERNS
Fruit and vegetable retail purchases for home consumption comprise a major portion of
Grant County’s economy. While not all fruits and vegetables purchased are locally produced, it
is estimated that $33 million is spent annually on fruits and vegetables in Grant County (Table
1). Consumers can purchase locally grown fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat and other products at
four seasonal farmers markets in Silver City, Mimbres, Gila, and Bayard. The Silver City Food
13
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Cooperative also regularly purchases goods from local farms, and occasionally other retail
outlets and institutions will purchase locally as well. Significant potential exists for local
agriculture to capture a larger percentage of the $33 million in County-wide fruit and vegetable
sales.18
TABLE 1: U.S. Fruit and Vegetable Retail Expenditures, 2010
Figure
Description
Calculation
U.S. average annual expenditures of all consumer units19:
$679
 Fruits and vegetables at home
$3,624
 Food at homea (total)
18.7%
 Percent of fruits and vegetables of all food at home
$2,505
 Food away from homeb (total)
$463
 Fruits and vegetables away from home
$2,505*18.7%
$1,142
 Total fruits and vegetables, home and away
$679+$463
29,514
2010 population of Grant County20
$33,704,988
2010 retail expenditures on fruits and vegetables in Grant
County
$679/$3,624*100
$1,142*29,514
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010 and U.S. Census, 2010.
a
Food at home refers to the total expenditures for food at grocery stores (or other food stores) and food prepared
by the consumer unit on trips. It excludes the purchase of nonfood items.
b
Food away from home includes all meals (breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, snacks, and nonalcoholic
beverages)—fast-food, take-out, delivery, concession stands, buffet and cafeteria, full-service restaurants, vending
machines, mobile vendors, and tips at restaurants. Also included are board (including at school), meals as pay,
special catered affairs (such as weddings, bar mitzvahs, and confirmations), school lunches, and meals away from
home on trips.
14
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
LAND SUITABILITY AND SOILS
Grant County has a long history of farming and ranching that has helped shape the
region’s economy and culture. Prime agricultural lands are located near bodies of water such as
the Gila and Mimbres Rivers, while ranchland is spread across the County, including throughout
the Gila National Forest. Table 2 provides a breakdown of the ownership/use of agricultural
land in Grant County.
TABLE 2: Land Use and Ownership in Grant County, New Mexico
Total Land (Acres)
2,538,240
Total Non-Public Lands (Acres)
851,678
Percent Non-Public Lands
33.55%
Total Farm/Ranch Land (Acres)
1,213,349
Percent of Farm/Ranch Lands
47.8%
Total State-Owned Lands (Acres)
367,685
Percent of State-Owned Lands
14.49%
Total Federally-Owned Lands (Acres)
1,294,877
Percent of Federally-Owned Lands
51.01%
Total Native American Lands (Acres)
24,000
Percent of Native American Lands
0.95%
Total Number of Farms/Ranches
327
Average Farm/Ranch Size (Acres)
3,711
Harvested Cropland (Acres)
536
Source: Western Rural Development Center, 2010.
Two-thirds of soil groups in the central and southern portions of the County are welldrained to excessively drained and suitable for livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, irrigated
crops, recreation, woodland, and urban development (Map C). In these areas, soils are best
suited for rangeland; however, there are areas where crops can be grown successfully when
irrigated properly, tilled, and given proper soil amendments to reduce excessive salinity or
alkalinity.21
15
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
MAP C: General Soil Map, Grant County, New Mexico
Sources: USGS, ESRI, TANA, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1994. 22
CLIMATE AND WATERSHED
The traditional growing season in Grant County from last frost to first frost is May 17 to
October 9.23 However, many growers use season extenders such as hoop houses, greenhouses,
and cold frames to successfully produce food year-round. Average annual temperatures vary
from 39.3 degrees Fahrenheit in January to 73 degrees Fahrenheit in July.24 Recent climate data
from the United States Department of Agriculture reveals that Grant County is in plant
hardiness zones 6B, 7A, 7B, and 8A, depending on geographic location (Map D).
Average annual precipitation varies from under 12 inches in the southern portion of
Grant County to 36 inches in the mountainous terrain of northern Grant County (Map E).
Agriculturalists do not rely primarily on rainfall to irrigate crops; rather, many producers utilize
the Mimbres and Gila Rivers, as well as groundwater, as primary sources of water for irrigation
(Table 3).
16
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
MAP D: Plant Hardiness Zone Map, New Mexico, 2012
Source: PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University and Agricultural Research Service, 2012.25
17
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
MAP E: Average Annual Precipitation, New Mexico, 1971-2000
Source: PRISM Group and Oregon Climate Service, 2006.26
18
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
TABLE 3: Selected Water Flow Rates in the Gila-Mimbres-San Francisco River Basinsc
Water Source
Period of Approved Daily-Mean Data
(water year)
Discharge (cubic feet
per second)
Gila River near Gila,
New Mexico
1928-2011
30,575
Mogollon Creek near
Cliff, New Mexico
1967-2011
16,248
Mimbres River at
Mimbres, New Mexico
1978-2011
12,230
Gila River near Red
Rock, NM
1931-2012
27,131
San Francisco River
near Reserve, NM
1959-2012
19,308
San Francisco River
near Glenwood, NM
1928-2012
30,782
Gila River below Blue
Creek, near Virden, NM
1927-2011
30,255
Source: US Geological Survey, 2011.27
Water availability, quality, and access are major issues in Grant County and throughout
the Southwest. More water flows down Oregon’s Columbia River in fifteen minutes than in New
Mexico each year.28 Because water is so scarce in our region, the County faces numerous,
complicated challenges including distributing water efficiently, allocating water rights,
promoting and practicing water conservation, and ensuring future water availability. Of the
c
It should be noted that these flow amounts do not give a true representation of water availability but are simply
baseline/average flow rates. Given that water rights in our region are fully adjudicated, and that any remaining
water in the Gila River must flow downstream into Arizona (as mandated by water rights legislation), water
becomes available only through the purchase/exchange of existing water rights. Further, though all 31,000 acrefeet/year allocated in the Gila-San Francisco River Basin is adjudicated, 4,000 acre-feet/year of this allocated
amount remains unused, and thus is potentially available for purchase or lease. Source: Conversation with Allyson
Siwik (Gila Resources Information Project director), February 16, 2012.
19
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
water that is available, “52 percent of New Mexico’s streams and 83 percent of its lakes have
impaired water quality.”29 Further, about “…three-quarters of the estimated twenty billion
acre-feet of groundwater in New Mexico is brackish and cannot be used absent desalination.”30
Fortunately, both public support and financial incentives exist for conserving water so
that it can be used for local agriculture. Results from a poll of New Mexico residents conducted
in 2000 by the University of New Mexico Institute for Public Policy show that many of the
State’s residents share a number of the same priorities regarding the use of the State’s water.
“Irrigation of farms” was cited, overall, as the second most important priority.31 Only “indoor
use in existing homes” ranked as a higher priority for the use of our water resources.
Water in Grant County (used for any purpose) comes from one of two sources: water
that is above ground (surface water) or water that is below ground (groundwater). As with most
natural resources, these two sources of water are often connected; drawing upon one source
can have a substantial effect on the amount of the other that remains. For example, certain
groundwater sources rely on a steady flow of nearby rivers or streams for their recharge;
removing too much water from these streams and rivers causes the availability of nearby
groundwater to decline. Similarly, certain rivers and streams rely on consistent groundwater
levels to prevent large amounts of river/stream water from percolating into nearby
groundwater sources. Excessive surface water or groundwater withdrawals can have
widespread, often unpredictable impacts.
Currently, of the high-quality water available in the State, approximately 75 percent is
used for agriculture/ranching purposes; naturally, this often leads to intense competition for
the remaining 25 percent.32 While at first glance this may imply that there is no room for
expanding agricultural production in many regions of the State (due to inadequate water
resources to do so), many areas of New Mexico are utilizing methods that use water more
efficiently as an alternate means of increasing local agriculture production.
Certain incentives exist for farmers who wish to expand their agricultural production by
converting their irrigation systems from flood irrigation to drip irrigation. Because drip irrigation
applies water more directly (and consistently) to the plants than flood irrigation, and because
evaporative losses are much less overall than those associated with flood irrigation, farmers can
use the same amount of water to irrigate more acreage and more crops; a well-calibrated drip
irrigation system can irrigate between 1.3 and 1.9 times as much land, using the same amount
of water.d Funding sources, such as those provided by the Environmental Quality Incentives
d
Farmers must acquire the necessary rights to expand the amount of acreage under irrigation/cultivation. If these
rights can be acquired, then it is feasible to expand production by utilizing drip irrigation (and using the same
amount of water as with prior irrigation techniques); however, if these rights cannot be acquired, water can
nevertheless be conserved. In the latter case, switching to drip irrigation can result in a 30-50 percent reduction in
20
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Program (EQIP), have made it possible for many farmers in the region (predominantly in Luna
County) to make the switch to drip irrigation. Future Farm Bill program funding and other
resource alternatives may make it likely that during the coming years, many of our region’s
farms will be able to expand by converting to more efficient irrigation methods.
In their 2010 report—Regional Water Demand Study for Southwest New Mexico: Catron,
Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna Counties—the authors further describe the benefits of drip irrigation:
Two recent studies in New Mexico have looked at the impacts of changing from flood to
drip irrigation (Ward and Pulido-Velazquez, 2008; Samani and Skaggs, 2008). Besides
reducing diversion demand, the farmer also benefits from an underground drip system
in that work such as spraying, cultivating, and harvesting (e.g. cutting hay) can continue
at all times, whereas under flood irrigation field access by tractors is limited to only
those inter-irrigation periods when the field is sufficiently dry…33
Other, less-utilized, options exist for better harnessing water resources in order to
continue or expand local agricultural production. These are addressed very thoroughly in the
two resources cited at the end of this report (Taking Charge of our Water Destiny: A Water
Management Policy Guide for New Mexico in the 21st Century and Regional Water Demand
Study for Southwest New Mexico: Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna Counties). These options
include growing crops that require less
water, removing “water-hogging”
vegetation along riparian corridors and
replacing it with vegetation that draws
less water, pumping treated municipal
water back into rivers, streams, and
groundwater sources to offset
withdrawals from the region’s water
systemse, and purchasing or leasing
water rights that currently are
adjudicated but are not being fully used
(such as those owned by Freeport
water usage. Source: Conversation with Allyson Siwik (Gila Resources Information Project director), February 16,
2012.
e
Currently, Silver City does participate in programs of this sort; both Deming and Bayard are in the planning stages
of implementing similar projects that re-introduce treated municipal water back into the region’s water systems.
Source: Conversation with Allyson Siwik (Gila Resources Information Project director), February 16, 2012.
21
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
McMoRan).
Currently, the majority of New Mexico’s water resources are appropriated—that is, not
much water in the State is unclaimed. In Grant County, the current point of diversion data from
the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer reveal the largest water rights owners in Grant
County include the Pacific Western Land Company, local mining companies (Phelps Dodge
Corporation, now FreePort McMoRan Copper & Gold), local municipalities (Town of Silver City,
Village of Santa Clara, City of Bayard, Grant County), and private landowners such as ranchers.34
Those who acquired their water rights earlier than others (“senior rights” holders) are
ensured by the Office of the State Engineer that their full water rights will not be impinged
upon by those who acquired water rights later (“junior rights” holders). Whether one has senior
or junior water rights, one fact remains: on a basic level, nature provides no guarantee that
water will be around in sufficient quantities 50 years from now or be of acceptable quality as
we continue to use and influence it in a number of ways. Therefore, it should be treated as a
precious commodity, even by those who have relatively more secure access to it.
Given that regional population (and associated municipal water usage) will likely
increase in the future, the most feasible choice for ‘finding’ the water to continue or expand
local agricultural production is to use the water we have more efficiently and effectively. By
conserving water and accomplishing the same things with less water, we essentially increase
the available water supply and thus our capacity for further agricultural expansion. A 1976
report, titled New Mexico Water Resources Assessment for Planning Purposes, put it well by
stating that, “Aside from the small amounts of water that presently are surplus to current
requirements in New Mexico, the only way in which water requirements can be met is by using
existing water supplies more efficiently or by using water supplies for a different purpose than
they are now being used.”35 Thirty-five years later, this message is more relevant than ever
before.
Unfortunately, water rights in New Mexico are currently assigned with a “use it or lose
it” policy, which often does very little to encourage conservation. Though much room for
improvement exists in this regard, changes are being made that make water conservation an
overall appealing (and even financially beneficial) option for farmers and ranchers. Legislation
such as the Strategic Water Reservef, and the approval of certain water conservation projects as
valid “uses” of one’s water rights, have helped to promote water conservation.
f
The Strategic Water Reserve is a pool of publicly held water rights dedicated to ensuring that New Mexico’s rivers
continue flowing to meet the needs of river-dependent endangered species and fulfill our water delivery
obligations to other states. Source: Conversation with Allyson Siwik (Gila Resources Information Project director),
February 16, 2012.
22
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
LABOR
Grant County producers (farmers and ranchers) are an aging population: the average
age of principal operators is 59. Seventy percent of producers are male, and the majority is
white.36
MARKET SIZE AND GROWTH POTENTIAL
Demographics of local agriculture reveal that the majority of ranching and farming
operations are small- to mid-sized family-owned businesses. One-third of farms and ranches
sell less than $1,000 worth of product per year.37 Many producers work second or third jobs to
make ends meet. The average annual expenditure per farm/ranch is $26,328, although most
farms operate on a net cash loss.
Table 4 provides a snapshot of local agriculture, although it should be noted that the
data include ranchland and farmland, and information may have changed significantly since the
last agricultural census was conducted.38 Table 5 lists the types of foods produced in Grant
County and the market value of each item in 2007.
TABLE 4: Agriculture Profile of Grant County, New Mexico
Number of Farms & Ranches
Land in Farms & Ranches
Average Size of Farm/Ranch
Market Value of Products Sold
Crop Sales $120,000 (2% of total)
Livestock Sales $7,698,000 (98%)
Average Per Farm
Government Payments
Average Per Farm Receiving Payments
2007
327
1,213,349 acres
3,711 acres
$7,818,000
2002
272
1,218,119 acres
4,478 acres
$7,543,000
$23,908
$134,000
$6,370
$27,733
$159,000
$4,189
% Change
+20
-.4
- 17
+4
-14
-16
+52
Source: 2007 U.S. Census of Agriculture39
A study conducted in 2009 revealed increasing potential for direct farm sales in the Gila
River region—Grant, Catron, and Cibola counties. Seventy-four farms and ranches sell $308,000
of food directly to consumers, which is a 95 percent increase in the number of farms selling
direct (38 in 2002), and a 61 percent increase in direct sales from $182,000 in 2002. Direct sales
23
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
account for 1.6 percent of the region’s farm sales—four times the national average. The New
Mexico Organic Program (formerly the New Mexico Organic Commodity Commission) lists 13
certified organic farms in the region, most of them in Grant County.40 Numerous other farms
claim to raise crops using organic methods but choose not to pursue third-party certification
due to prohibitive costs.41 Grant County has also seen a significant reduction in the cattle
industry in recent decades. In 1979, there were 59,000 head of cattle in the County, compared
to 28,000 in 2009.42
24
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
TABLE 5: Market Value of Agricultural Products Produced in Grant County, NM
Item
Market Value of Agricultural Products Sold ($1,000)
Total value of agricultural products sold
Value of crops, including nursery and greenhouse
Value of livestock, poultry, and their products
Value of Sales by Commodity Group ($1,000)
Grains, oilseeds, dry beans, and dry peas
Tobacco
Cotton and cottonseed
Vegetables, melons, potatoes, and sweet potatoes
Fruits, tree nuts, and berries
Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod
Cut Christmas trees and short rotation woody crops
Other crops and hay
Poultry and eggs
Cattle and calves
Milk and other dairy products from cows
Hogs and pigs
Sheep, goats, and their products
Horses, ponies, mules, burros, and donkeys
Aquaculture
Other animals and other animal products
Top Crop Items (Acres)
Forage - land used for all hay and haylage, grass silage, and greenchop
Apples
Vegetables harvested for sale
Pecans, all
Pears, all
Top Livestock Inventory Items (Number)
Cattle and calves
Horses and ponies
Layers
Goats, all
Mules, burros, and donkeys
Quantity
7,818
120
7,698
(D)
33
34
30
(D)
(D)
7,508
9
5
21
147
(D)
442
52
13
13
(D)
25,399
1,250
302
141
120
Source: 2007 U.S. Census of Agriculture. (D) Cannot be disclosed.43
While official data are unavailable, backyard gardening and participation in community
gardens are also popular means within Grant County of eating locally, healthfully, and
seasonally. Map F shows the locations of nine community gardens in Grant County.
25
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
MAP F: Community Gardens in Silver City (insert) and Grant County, New Mexico
Above: Hudson Street Community Garden in Silver City, New Mexico.
Map G shows over 50 existing and potential markets for local producers, including
institutions (schools, hospital, etc.), farmers markets, grocery stores, convenience stores,
restaurants, and other private food businesses such as catering companies.
26
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
MAP G: Existing and Potential Markets in Grant County, New Mexico
LEGEND
 Institutions
 Farmers Markets
 Restaurants and Private Food Businesses
 Grocery or Convenience Stores
PERCEPTIONS ABOUT SCALING UP PRODUCTION—BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES
To most effectively expand local agriculture and food production in our region, a
number of individuals and organizations must work together, combining resources to create the
conditions that a vibrant local food system will require. Local producers are obviously crucial to
this process.
Despite strong local support for improving residents’ access to local, sustainable,
affordable, and nutritious food, certain barriers do exist that make this a somewhat challenging
endeavor. As mentioned earlier in this assessment, local producers were surveyed and food
producer focus groups were held in Spring 2010 to gather information about these barriers (as
well as related opportunities).44 Common barriers identified by producers included regulatory
barriers, environmental challenges, and lack of agricultural infrastructure to produce, store, and
transport products to local markets. Opportunities identified included untapped regional
27
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
markets, forming partnerships, and garnering political support for the local farming and
ranching sectors.
Barriers45
Many participants in the focus groups felt that the potential for niche
farming/producing and niche marketing were key factors influencing their desire to farm or
produce food in this region; however, those who had been local producers for a substantial
period of time also pointed out that no one producer, as of yet, has enough product to satisfy
the needs of more than one or perhaps two local niche markets.
For some participants, though, understanding how to connect with local restaurants and
stores remains a barrier to selling their product and potentially expanding production. One
producer didn’t know where to find information on selling produce with the Silver City Food
Cooperative, a reliable market for selling locally grown produce and other local foods. This
feedback reflects a critical weakness in two areas of the local food economy. First, many
producers don’t have access to the local marketplace
or are uncertain of how to access it effectively. Second,
Much of the commercial
local buyer (i.e. restaurants, stores, and institutions
such as schools) education on the health and economic
infrastructure supporting
stimulus benefits of utilizing home-grown, natural food
farmers and ranchers that
is inadequate. Many grocers, restaurateurs, etc.
used to be available locally
primarily prioritize certain quantities and types of
has disappeared.
products rather than taste, freshness, and character
(terroir); further, buyers of food that falls into this
category do not often accommodate variation in
growing season and crop offerings.
Lack of necessary infrastructure was also a key barrier discussed at all focus groups.
Local slaughterhouses and meat cutting/wrapping businesses have quit operations rather than
borrow money to upgrade their facilities to meet expensive new processing inspection
regulations (designed for distant, enormous facilities). The closest meat inspection facility
(USDA certified) available now is in Tucson, Arizona. Lack of equipment or a facility to attach
scan-able UPC (or 5-digit) label tags to products presents another competitive barrier.
Refrigerated and frozen storage facilities, necessary for storing produce and meat until
transport or sale, also went out of business starting in the 1970s. Consumer buying habits
began to favor price and convenience over quality and what was seasonally available and
produced closer to home. Generally, depressed economies favor the large-scale farm
operations, which the smaller, local producers surveyed believe achieve low per-unit costs of
production through using big machinery, chemicals, imported (and usually less expensive)
28
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
labor, and government subsidies (in the form of tax incentives, loans, grants and agricultural
research). The topic of expansion also reinvigorated discussion on forming a producers’
cooperative for food distribution and storage, something that many participants were strongly
interested in, and something many felt would make securing local sales and competing with
distant, large-scale producers more feasible.
Within the County, lopsided competition exists between “newcomer” producers and
established local families who acquired their land through inheritance from ancestors who, in
their time, purchased land and water rights at much lower costs. Individuals pointed out that,
because many of the larger local landowners use their agricultural land for irrigated pasture
rather than crop production, available farmland is shrinking. These landowners typically have
“priority” ditch rights for water use that supersede later-acquired water rights. In drought
years, these newer farmers can end up with no irrigation water during the hottest, driest times
of the growing season. The Gila-Cliff and Mimbres groups felt especially challenged by wateruse restrictions based on outdated and overly restrictive Office of State Engineer regulations.
These regulations, and the agencies that enforce them, have a hard time accommodating new
water conservation technologies and small-scale, intensive organic farming. One person said
the regulations encourage those with greater water rights to “waste the water,” as they are
bound to a “use-it-or-lose-it” policy (refer to the previous section, page 22, on water issues for
more information).
The groups expressed the belief that the costs of organic, local, small-scale production
are too high to produce a reasonable return on investment given the sale prices feasible in the
current economy of Grant County. One person mentioned Santa Fe as an example of a largevolume, up-scale market that will pay higher prices for organic, locally grown food. Besides
economic reasons, most producers perceive there is a lack of local support for local agriculture
from influential entities such as the Chamber of Commerce (“…is not supportive of farmers
markets, only storefront businesses”) and the Town of Silver City (“…gives no support to the
Silver City Farmers Market”). Aside from the Grant County Cooperative Extension Service, many
felt there are not good community models to educate consumers on the value and preparation
of nutritious, local food.
Additionally, it was mentioned that organic farmers who depend on compost rather
than chemical fertilizers do not have a local compost source, and transporting certified organic
compost from Albuquerque is expensive and time-consuming. Most small-scale farms in Grant
County provide their owners/operators with supplemental income. These farmers often have
other jobs, which prevent them from spending very much time traveling to acquire needed
supplies or deliver products.
29
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Producers perceive that the regulatory environment in Grant County (and elsewhere)
favors large producers over small-scale producers. The equipment and hygienic practices
required for all producers place an unnecessary, often prohibitively expensive burden on small,
local producers. All groups cited, as major barriers to selling products locally, the lack of a local
processing facility that is USDA-approved for meat cutting/packing and a Department of Healthcertified community kitchen that can be used for producing value-added products. Other
regulatory issues brought up as challenges include livestock predation from reintroduced
species (“avoid Federal lands grazing leases”), property tax on livestock, and uncertain
information on food grading for different markets.
Local producers pointed out that institutions purchasing food have very tight state or
local government budgets. The costs of small-scale production (land, water, equipment, seed,
supplies, storage, distribution, etc.) generally require producers to sell at prices higher than
institutions can pay. Institutions also have contract (systemic) restrictions and must abide by
guidelines such as those established by the American Dietetic Association. Because of these
restrictions, the focus groups were not confident that simply providing education to
institutional food preparers regarding the taste of fresh food (compared to processed food)
would be successful in opening these markets.
Finally, though our natural environment was cited as sometimes being ideal for local
agriculture, it was also a commonly cited barrier to expanding local agriculture production.
Many producers felt that environmental/climatic conditions make the growing of some crops
and the husbandry of some animals impossible. Even the more robust plants and livestock may
have their quality reduced under extreme conditions.
The focus groups bemoaned that animal and insect predation and crop and livestock
disease are especially significant challenges in Grant County. Gophers, javelina, raccoons, deer
and birds can raid a garden, field, or orchard, destroying young seedlings or almost ripe fruit
and vegetables. Coyote packs, mountain lions, bobcats, and bears will occasionally prey on
newborn or young livestock, especially when conditions are dry and wild game is scarce. Cycles
of insect infestation and crop diseases tend to follow particular weather patterns that would
otherwise be favorable (e.g. mild winters or wet springs) or result from poor crop rotation or
pest management practices.
Opportunities46
Fortunately, though conversations with local producers helped to identify barriers to
increasing agricultural production, these same conversations also addressed many of the
opportunities that exist in overcoming these barriers. When asked what other potential (local)
markets participants would like to sell their products to, producers mentioned institutions such
30
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
as schools, County jails, a prison (near Las Cruces), hospitals (e.g. Gila Regional Medical Center,
Ft. Bayard Hospital), and senior centers. Decades ago, grocery stores always carried local
produce. They would still be a logical outlet, depending on their purchasing rules and required
quantities of various products. Finally, several people mentioned how the Internet, combined
with rapid parcel delivery, can support a thriving online sales market for products such as
frozen meat and herbal medicines.
(Left): Healthy Kids, Healthy
Communities facilitated the firstever farm to school pilot project in
Grant County in September 2011.
Shown here is the nutrition services
staff at Silver Consolidated Schools
and Gary Benavidez with the Silver
City Food Cooperative, with carrots
purchased from local farms. HKHC
hopes to complete a similar project
in Spring 2012.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs were also cited as largely untapped
markets. CSA programs have the potential, as proven in many parts of the U.S., to directly link
consumers to producers and bypass many of the regulatory and infrastructure hurdles that
preclude small-scale sales in many markets. Though consumers and families have, for at least
two decades, become accustomed to ways of purchasing food that reflect the large-scale
commercial production methods common today, local advertising could be inexpensively used
to re-educate consumers on alternative ways to acquire produce and meat.
The idea of forming various cooperative sharing entities to address some of the
challenges local producers face (i.e. equipment, seeds, information, storage, distribution)
seemed to be a traditional idea that had been forgotten or instead practiced informally, but it
now sparked new interest; despite this interest, many of the producers indicated wariness
about becoming entangled in a non-income producing venture that would divert time away
from their primary focus of farming or ranching.
Participating producers said they are willing to expand production to meet demand.
However, few focus group participants expressed interest in low-interest microloans (“don’t
want to go into [any/more] debt”) as a means of helping to accomplish this. Instead, one
31
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
person suggested he would prefer subsidies for local
farmers (“just like for large farmers”). This led to a
discussion on the need for a local food policy group to
find and acquire grants for local farmers (“awards of
$5,000 each”) to help keep their operations more
sustainable.
In general, the groups all agreed on the need for
a local food policy group to acquire grants (especially
those more easily acquired) from agriculture-focused
agencies like the National Resource Conservation
Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Financial assistance from grants could be used to offset
the costs of numerous agriculture-related projects:
leveling land, installing irrigation equipment (both ditch
and drip), placing revetment fences to prevent soil
erosion, building settling ponds for use in irrigation,
constructing high tunnels, etc. The problems in
acquiring grant funds were just as easy to enumerate:
the applying and reporting requirement “interferes with
farm time,” “requires upfront money,” and in the past,
many participants have had difficulty acquiring grants.
Trainings for local producers on grant writing appear to
be an underlying need that could be appreciated and
very useful.
A few of the focus groups suggested that starting
an experimental research farm in Grant County would
be a powerful tool in revitalizing local agricultural. A
producer who had inquired about this found that the
land for the farm would need to be donated to NMSU,
due to the State’s budget situation. Another producer
mentioned that the San Juan Experiment Station
specializes in small-scale drip irrigation research, and
they might be willing to start a small drip irrigation
experimental plot here in Grant County.
Many producers brought up the need for a
public brokerage for leased land and water rights. These
32
TOWNSIDE FARM: A STORY OF
SUCCESS
Townside Farm is a relatively new addition to Silver
City’s local food scene, yet its offerings have already
won over the hearts, and stomachs, of many local
residents. Coming into its fourth season, the farm
offers CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)
subscriptions and also sells at the Silver City Farmers
Market and the Silver City Food Cooperative.
The farm is managed by two community members:
Peter Day, the owner of Townside Farm, is a thoughtful
and passionate farmer, whose love for growing food
close to home is evident within minutes of meeting
him; the farm’s manager and chief laborer, Doug Smith,
is a Connecticut native whose long hours working on
the farm are instrumental in keeping the farm’s
operations running smoothly. Both Day and Smith bring
years of diverse farming experience to Townside Farm.
Currently, of the ten acres that comprise the farm, one
acre is being cultivated, along with a recently built
greenhouse that provides salad mixes throughout the
winter. Other key features of the farm operation are an
open-air washing station, solar electricity network,
walk-in cooler, storage building, drip-irrigation system,
and deer-proof fencing. A tractor and other equipment
are used to disc and tine the fields, which are then
supplemented with cover crops, fertilized, and
mulched. Row covers and shade cloth help to protect
young, vulnerable plants from sun, wind, and frost.
Though the farm is not certified Organic, Day and Smith
strongly believe in organic farming principles and utilize
these methods throughout their farm. Virtually none of
their seeds are hybridized, and the farm uses natural
fertilizers, crop rotation, and heavy mulching to keep
its soils, its plants—and of course, its caretakers—
healthy. Rather than spend additional money to pay for
Organic certification, they instead have chosen to keep
their prices as affordable as possible and invite those
who are interested in their production methods to visit
the farm.
Townside Farm strives to make its offerings available to
everyone, not just the wealthy, by growing a mix of
vegetables that are popular within the community and
others that store well for longer periods of time
(potatoes, winter squash, etc.). Day is passionate about
educating the community about local food and does so
by providing information (at the farm or the farmers
market) about how to cook farm-grown ingredients and
hosting farm tours for local students and residents. In
Day’s words, “The name of the farm reflects the
concept of bringing the farm to the people, to
counteract the disconnection of our society from the
source of its sustenance: the land” (Desert Exposure,
June 2010).
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
producers want support from an entity that will help alleviate suspicions that a land owner
would not extend his/her lease after the producer had made soil and infrastructure
improvements. Regarding switching ditch rights to wells, all believed the “owner would never
get the ditch rights back” due to vague regulations and hidden Office of the State Engineer
policies.
Some attendees suggested that the HKHC (Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities) staff
should target the following policy- and community-related topics to support small-scale
agricultural and local food production:









County Commission land development policies
“taxing of fast-foods” in our region
grocery store purchasing policies
promotion of direct sales by small producers
institutional food purchasing policies (“need periodic review and public
debate/input”)
education of consumers, families, and youth
promotion of community gardens
placement of local food in convenience stores – (“tried and not well received,” one
person responded)
showcasing documentaries and books on U.S. food production: large-scale vs. smallscale.
Finally, for local agriculture to truly expand in a sustainable fashion, we must, as one
producer put it, “grow more farmers.” In this regard, the groups suggested that, for young
people to become interested in an agricultural career, they have to see several signs of
encouragement, starting with success stories. They must see successful small farmers and
supportive government regulations. This means that current producers must find methods to
make farming profitable in Grant County.
The groups also noted that the soil must be fertile for the seed to grow into a plant,
meaning that one can’t neglect the education of youth on small-scale ranching and fresh-foodproducing agriculture and still expect there to be enthusiastic young farmers and ranchers
waiting in the wings. Again, the attendees brought up the need for programs targeting schoolage kids, such as farm visits, working alongside families in community gardens, or even
providing families with free, small cold frames or hoop houses and instruction on how to use
them. The groups agreed that FarmLink-type programs that match young aspiring farmers to
retiring farmers are necessary, as is the presence of a thriving organization of local mentors to
provide encouragement during difficult times. Incubator farms (rent to own/learn) were
discussed as being a good way for youth to “try farming out.”
33
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
sh
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# of Producers
In addition to data collected from focus groups, information was also gathered from
local producers (farmers/ranchers) who completed HKHC producer surveys. Out of 28 local
producers surveyed, the average number of acres used for food production in Spring 2010 was
2.6 acres. Various types of vegetables and fruits were the most popular products grown by
survey participants (Figure 2). Two-thirds of producers were somewhat or very interested in
expanding to year-round food production.47
Grant County Food Production
FIGURE 2: Grant County Food Production
(Spring
2010)
(Late March/
Early April
2010)
Producers buy their equipment from multiple sources: local, regional, out-of-state, mail
order, and internet vendors. Almost half (47%) said they buy supplies and equipment locally
from at least one business in Grant and Luna Counties. Fifty-seven percent said they buy
supplies and equipment from one or two regional businesses in New Mexico or Arizona,
excluding Grant and Luna counties. Ninety-three percent buy supplies and equipment from at
least one supplier in other states besides New Mexico or Arizona, either online or by mail.
In regards to local political support for the agricultural sector, 52 percent of producers
surveyed were uncertain or do not believe there is City or County government support for
expanding local food production. A slightly larger percentage (67%) of producers surveyed were
uncertain or do not believe there is State government support for expanding local food
production.48
Finally, producers ranked various opportunities they believed would benefit and expand
agricultural production in Grant County (Table 6).
34
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
TABLE 6: Producers’ Ranking of Opportunities to Expand Agriculture
% of Producers Who are
Very/Somewhat Interested
Rank
Meat Processing Facility
85
1
Central Cold Storage Facility
81
2
Commercial Kitchen
78
3
FarmLink Program
78
3
Young Adult Mentoring Program
77
4
Selling to Schools and Local Institutions
74
5
Producers’ Cooperative
72
6
Community Supported Agriculture
68
7
Year-Round Food Production
67
8
Partner with Local Land Owners
67
8
Food Policy Council
58
9
Microloan Program
54
10
Opportunity for Investment
POLITICAL CLIMATE & COMMUNITY SUPPORT
As mentioned earlier in this report, HKHC surveyed 30 local policymakers to determine
their perceptions regarding the current state of our local food system, including both perceived
barriers to healthier eating habits and opportunities to promote local, healthy foods. When
describing perceived barriers and opportunities to creating a healthier, more robust local food
system, policymakers listed those factors relating to the consumption of healthier/local food
and to increased future production of local/healthy food (or in some cases, barriers and
opportunities relating to both consumption and production).49
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
As with the results from the producer surveys and focus groups, no two policymakers
identified the same set of barriers and opportunities. Some common trends did emerge,
however. One commonly expressed barrier to increasing the consumption of healthy (and
when possible, local) food is the poor quality of school lunches offered to our youth. Further,
many of those interviewed said that the food that schools can offer to their students (mostly
through school meals) is largely regulated by federal nutrition guidelines and funding. Many felt
that these guidelines and small budgets often restrict schools from offering local, healthy food.
Finally, several of those interviewed stated that, though some children qualify for low-cost or
free school meals, many do not qualify and instead simply go without.
A number of other perceived barriers preventing residents (primarily children) from
eating healthier, local food were cited by many of the policymakers who were interviewed.
Several mentioned that poor nutrition/food-related education combined with easy access to
fast-food and vending/soda machines help to create the situation we face—many of our youth
eat foods that do not leave them healthy and many of these youth are unaware of what
elements (and foods) contribute to good health. Further, many policymakers felt that, for many
of these children, food- and health-related education, as well as the presence of good role
models for eating healthfully, are not present in their homes or families. Finally, one
policymaker stated that children today don’t have fun with their food, which he felt is a
contributing factor to the very weak food culture of our region and our nation.
Cultural factors were mentioned by the majority of policymakers interviewed as
potential barriers to increasing regional consumption of healthier (and locally grown) foods.
Many stated that families are often set in their ways with regards to food selection and eating
habits, and that changing the less healthy of these traditions and routines (some of which are
culturally driven and many of which are constantly reinforced at home) can be very difficult.
Further, some of those interviewed felt that some families whose health is suffering as a result
of the foods they are eating are relatively unaware that they are even in poor health or that
their food-related choices significantly contribute to the state of their health. Some
policymakers were concerned that, for these individuals and families in particular, conveying
fundamental concepts surrounding food and health could be very challenging.
Finally, accessibility and affordability of both healthy and locally produced food (and the
public’s perceptions of these two issues) were cited by many respondents as two key barriers to
increasing the consumption of more nutritious, locally grown foods. According to some
policymakers, many local residents view healthy food (locally grown or otherwise) as being too
expensive and difficult or impractical to obtain (not available in their community or where they
regularly shop). In places where certain healthier foods are available, fresh produce is often of
poor quality.
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Though most policymakers mentioned barriers relating to the consumption of healthy
and locally grown/produced food, several also described key barriers that make increasing the
production of healthy, locally grown and produced food more difficult. Infrastructure for local
agriculture (cold storage, storage and distribution hubs, etc.), lack of water resources,
inadequate funding for agriculture-related projects and expansion, and a relatively
unsupportive economic climate (with regards to local agriculture production) were all cited as
interrelated barriers to increasing local agricultural production. Finally, as policymakers, many
individuals interviewed noted that our region lacks legislation and policies that provide support
for local agriculture. Several respondents suggested implementing policies such as mandating
that WIC and SNAP money only be used to purchase healthy food (locally grown/produced food
being one example) or changing the purchasing/nutrition guidelines for institutions (such as
schools, hospitals, etc.) so that these institutions are better able to—or even required to—
purchase healthy and/or local food for at least a portion of their operations.
Policymakers were also eager to describe existing opportunities for expanding both the
production and consumption of healthy (and locally grown/produced) food. Many of those
interviewed strongly felt that efforts to educate the public about the benefits of eating
healthier foods are crucial in improving the food purchasing and consuming habits of local
citizens. Suggested efforts (some of which are currently in place) included airing cooking shows
on Community Access Television of Silver (CATS), providing local government encouragement
and support for healthy eating and locally produced food, encouraging large institutions to
promote healthy eating and local sourcing of food, strengthening Hidalgo Medical Services’ La
Vida program, and providing educational materials at schools and in the community (providing
information with residential water bills, in newspaper articles, etc.). The Grant County
Community Health Council was also mentioned as an organization with strong potential to
provide food-related education to the surrounding communities.
Other projects and initiatives mentioned were valued by policymakers because of their
ability to directly and immediately increase consumption of healthy and locally grown foods.
These included sales of locally grown produce to schools (i.e. ‘farm-to-school’ programs), the
introduction of gardens and healthier meals at senior centers, the expansion of EBT-friendly
farmers markets in the region, and the replacement of unhealthy vending machine options with
more nourishing alternatives in local schools and other large institutions.
A handful of policymakers interviewed discussed strategies that could help to bolster
local agricultural production in our region. These included increasing the number of community
and home gardens, utilizing greenhouses (both large and small) to allow for year-round
production, and creating cold and dry storage facilities as well as commercial kitchens.
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Finally, and not surprisingly, many policymakers stressed the importance policy changes
can have in changing the consumption, availability, affordability, and viable production of
healthy and locally grown foods. The Grant County Food Policy Council (see below) was
mentioned as one valuable resource for determining what policy changes could have the
greatest impact.
Interest in local agriculture and food issues has increased immensely in Grant County
since 2006. In August 2010, the Grant County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution
establishing an advisory board for food and agriculture known as the Grant County Food Policy
Council. The 13-member Council is comprised of government and non-government
representatives who meet at least quarterly throughout the year to work on projects, policies,
and partnerships to strengthen our local food system. The Council also serves as a hub for food
and agriculture resources, such as funding opportunities for farmers and ranchers. Other
organizations in the community that work on food and agriculture issues are included in
Appendix F.
Left: Several Food Policy Council members eat
lunch with G.W. Stout Elementary students.
POLICIES AND PLANS REFERENCING LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS
While there may be significant support for agricultural production in Grant County, a
survey of local, County and regional plans revealed a weak link between local food
production/sales and policies that support such efforts. No plan has a specific chapter on food
and agriculture; however, this subject is mentioned within certain sections of plans. Table 7
outlines where food and agriculture are mentioned in our region’s government planning and
policy documents.
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
TABLE 7: Survey of Municipal, County, and Regional Plans for References to Food and Agriculture
Reference to Food & Agriculture
MUNICIPAL PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Town of Silver City Comprehensive Plan (2004)50
Comments on development/growth needing to respect and take into account traditional patterns
of growth/land use for areas that have a long history of farming and ranching.
Page 7-19, top of page.
Brief description of the economic “multiplier effect” that is created when businesses (such as
farms/ranches/grocers) are local and spending and revenue are kept within a local economy.
Page 7-20, paragraph 3.
Reference to the habitat-preserving value of good management practices on farm- and ranchland.
Page 7-22, top of page.
Silver City MainStreet organization supports the Silver City Farmers Market.
Page 7-25, bottom of
page.
Emphasizes that Grant County is committed to supporting its traditional economic base, which
includes agriculture and ranching. Further emphasis on supporting agriculture/ranching for both
their economic value and the traditional ways of life they keep alive.
Page 7-29, last paragraph.
States that though not as economically viable as in the past, farming and ranching continue to be
very important for many residents of Grant County.
Page 7-30, paragraph 1.
States that many farmers/ranchers hold second or third jobs to make ends meet; States that
improving infrastructure/networks around local agriculture/ranching would increase food
security, local income, and job opportunities.
Page 7-30, paragraph 3.
Silver City Farmers Market captures an estimated 1 percent of the area population, pointing to
the huge untapped potential in our area; Marketing campaigns to promote local ranchers,
growers, and producers of value-added products could substantially increase local food-related
opportunities; Another mention of the economic benefit (multiplier effect) created by local
businesses.
Pages 7-30 to 7-31,
paragraph 4 to top of
page on 7-31.
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
(Peripherally related to food/agriculture): Emphasizes that in the past, comprehensive plans have
not always been well implemented; States that future intent is to incorporate them into
legislation, rules, and regulations, with accountability for enforcement and implementation.
Page 7-32, paragraph 2.
Specific policy that promotes local businesses, encouraging continuation and expansion of local
businesses through technical, financial, managerial, planning, and educational support.
Page 7-33, policy ED 1.2.
Specific policy that funds and supports local efforts to promote economic development.
Page 7-35, policy ED 1.14.
Reference to the importance of water conservation/NM Water Plan.
Pages 8-7 to 8-8.
Town of Silver City Land Use and Zoning Code (2010)51
Definition of a “farmers market.”
Page 20.
Reference to “farmers markets” in “Retail Sales and Service” chart.
Page 50.
Reference to “agriculture” in above-mentioned chart.
Page 54.
Reference to “animal confinement and pasture” in rules/regulations section.
Page 56.
Regulations concerning barns, silos, fences, walls, gardens, greenhouses, livestock/fowl, etc.
Pages 75-76.
Definition of “farmers market”
Page 83.
Parking requirements for “outdoor market or sales” and “agricultural facility.”
Page 148.
Town of Silver City Trails and Open Spaces Plan (2002)52
NONE
40
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Village of Santa Clara Comprehensive Plan (2006)53
Graph showing percent of workforce in the “Agriculture, forestry, fisheries, mining” industries.
Page 45.
Under the “Economic Development” section: Strategy 12: “Institute a local business preference on Page 51.
contracts between local businesses or governmental entities such as the school district, Village of
Santa Clara, Ft. Bayard Medical Center, and Phelps Dodge to support local businesses through a
‘buy local’ effort in the community and County.”
Under the “Infrastructure” section: Strategy 12: “Educate the community on water conservation
and recycling techniques through community events…Workshop topics might include design and
use of gray water systems,…drip irrigation design…etc.
Strategy 13: “Institute rebate incentives for water conservation measures…”
Village of Santa Clara Economic Development Plan (2000)54
NONE
City of Bayard Comprehensive Plan (2005)55
Strategy 9: “Develop a community garden with youth involvement, on City property next to Police
Station.”
Page 66.
Page 16.
Strategy 1: Reference to community education on water conservation—including encouraging
practices such as drip irrigation and proper irrigation system operation throughout the seasons.
Page 42.
Strategy 4: Reference to rebate incentives for water conservation measures taken.
Page 42.
City of Bayard Economic Development Plan (2003)56
NONE
Town of Hurley Comprehensive Plan (2005)57
Description of percent of workforce employed in “agricultural, forestry, fishing, hunting, mining”
industries.
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Page 23.
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
COUNTY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Reference to Food & Agriculture
Grant County Comprehensive Plan (2004)58
Emphasis on aesthetic and historical/cultural value of farm- and ranchland along the Mimbres and
Gila Rivers; description of policies in place to protect these lands.
Page 2-7, paragraphs 2-3,
and Page 2-8, paragraph
1.
Description of land use, history and historical value of farm- and ranchland in Grant County.
Pages 3-3 to 3-4.
Reference to ranchlands and farmlands as being contributors to “sense of place.”
Page 3-10.
Land use regulations and patterns/trends with regards to food/agriculture/ranching.
Pages 3-26, last
paragraph, to Page 3-27.
Specific land use goals and policies, including: “A County comprised of rural communities with
primarily agricultural and single family residential land uses to all areas outside of the County’s
municipalities” (Land Use Goal #2)—see related policies LU 2.1 and LU 2.4; “A County that values
agriculture as a viable part of the culture and tradition of its communities, and encourages
agricultural diversification in order to preserve and maintain agricultural lands for farm use,
consistent with existing and future needs for agricultural products and open space.” (Land Use
Goal #3)—see related policy LU 3.1 through 3.4.
Pages 3-32 to 3-35.
Policy I 2.8 (“Water Conservation Programs”): “Support Extension Service, Soil Conservation
Service, and Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service programs that promote the
efficient and conservative use of water in agriculture.”
Page 6-13.
Policy I 2.13 (“Water Banks”): “Explore the use of water banks as a means for providing water
resources for environmental, recreational, agricultural, and other purposes.”
Page 6-14.
Fairly broad coverage of the historic and current economic contributions of agriculture and
ranching to Grant County; Emphasis on the County pledging to support agriculture and ranching,
Pages 7-30 to 7-31
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
which are part of its traditional economic base. The latter portions of this are identical to that
found in the Silver City Comprehensive Plan (Pages 7-30 to 7-31 in that document).
Specific policies relating to economic development goals: Support for new agriculture initiatives
(policy ED 1.1); Promote/encourage selling of locally produced goods and local services (policy ED
1.2); …support small-scale farming… (policy ED 1.3); Investigate agricultural diversification,
encourage financial institutions to assist in the development of more diverse agriculture, and
ensure that the same incentives used for attracting industry to the area are used to assist in
agricultural diversification (policy ED 1.4); Provide financial incentives for local businesses such as
revolving loan funds to make small-scale, low-interest loans available to small businesses (policy
ED 1.5).
Pages 7-34 to 7-35.
Policy ED 2.6 (“Local Employees”): “Encourage businesses operating in the County to hire
employees that live locally.”
Page 7-38.
Natural Resource Policy NR 1.1 (“Land Stewardship and Ecosystem Integrity”): “Promote a holistic
approach to stewardship of land and water resources, based on established best practices in
agriculture and range management, and sound land management practices for public lands.
Promote integrated approaches to which natural processes and systems support agricultural
production while preserving and enhancing river bisques, forests and grasslands.”
Page 8-8.
Policy NR 1.7 (“Tax Exemption”): “Investigate the feasibility of a tax exemption (similar to the
existing agricultural land use tax exemption) that can compensate landowners who set aside land
for habitat preservation and/or open space.”
Page 8-10.
Policy NR 4.3 (“Soil Conservation Programs”): “Work with the Extension Service, the SCS, farmers
and ranchers to increase education and awareness about soil conservation practices. Work with
agencies and organizations to establish soil conservation programs and work with the agencies
and organizations, farmers and ranchers to implement such programs.”
Page 8-14.
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Grant County Subdivision Regulations (1997)59
Description of the “Right to Farm Act” and its implications.
Page “FORMS –Page 9.”
REGIONAL PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (2010-2015)60
Page 11, paragraph 4.
Promote backyard/community gardens to increase local food sources; Develop local food sources
to decrease outside dependence (i.e. urban livestock); Promote establishment of berry farms;
Make plans for use of unused grazing lands; Support ranchers and ranching activities; Support
larger-scale farmers and their crops by ensuring water supplies.
Page 13, top section.
Reference to Food & Agriculture
REGIONAL
REGIONAL
Reliable food supply is a crucial part of the foundation on which development occurs.
(Indirect references)
Develop health-related outreach programs to provide services to remote areas; Obtain support
for health & wellness priorities from each of the County-wide health councils; Provide needed
services to disadvantaged populations, including the elderly; Promote the development and use
of school health/wellness plans.
Page 15, “Health” section.
Historically, irrigated agriculture has been the largest user of surface/groundwater; Farm
development increased in 1950s with realization that soils/climate of the region, along with
groundwater availability, made profitable farming possible.
Page 20, paragraph 4.
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Gross receipts income from ranching and farming provide income in SW New Mexico; Almost all
ranching operations in NM are family businesses; Combined income for Grant and Luna counties
in agriculture, fishing, forestry, and hunting for the first quarter of 2008 totaled $2.82 million.
Return on investment from 51 ranches in the County is 1.4%; Endangered Species Act has halved
Page 24, “Agriculture and
the number of jobs and severely reduced County income; Most of the ~6,400 irrigated acres in the Ranching” section.
County are used for grass production for livestock; reference to formation of Food Policy Council;
The importance of food security is emphasized.
(References to Catron and Luna Counties)
In Catron County, beef cattle are the primary agricultural commodity—there are currently 170
beef cattle ranches; Livestock production remains an important income producer in Catron
County.
Pages 24 – 25.
Luna County has the largest amount of irrigated cropland in the region (35,000 – 40,000 acres);
Installing drip irrigation is an important goal for Luna County; USDA has provided $2.4 million to
install drip irrigation on 24 small farms, with the assistance of Black Range Resource &
Conservation Development, Inc.; The cost of installing drip irrigation is $2,000 - $2,500 per acre.
Labor laws affecting farms, including a proposed workman’s comp. requirement, will cause a
significant loss of labor, reducing production and food availability.
Page 25.
The drought of the past few years is affecting the beef industry. USDA is evaluating and trying to
help with feeding inadequately fed cattle, but there remains a need for a wider response through
public policy.
Page 25.
Water availability is critical to agriculture.
Page 25.
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Conclusion
Further research into the topics addressed in this assessment is needed to paint a
broader, more detailed picture of the state of our local food system here in Grant County, NM.
However, the information in this assessment provides an overview of our County’s food system
and is a valuable starting point for those striving to strengthen our local food system. In
particular, the complex issues of current water usage and future water availability for additional
local agriculture warrant further, more detailed investigation, as this assessment has perhaps
raised more questions than provided answers in that regard.
As this assessment has shown, there is much room for improvement in strengthening
our local food system here in Grant County, and the resources to do so also exist in many cases.
Though we currently face record-high levels of a myriad of health problems within our
communities—including diabetes, childhood and adult obesity, heart disease, etc.—we also
have the opportunity to halt and eventually reverse these tragic, relatively recent trends in the
declining health of many of our residents. The information presented in this assessment is
intended to be a powerful tool, providing those individuals and organizations working to bolster
our local food system (and over time, greatly improve the health and lives of our residents) with
much of the information and resources they need to move forward effectively.
We have much to gain by working together to build a strong local food system here in
Grant County. Like many areas in our country and across the world, more and more Grant
County residents are uncomfortable about our ability to provide ourselves with food, should
food transportation costs skyrocket or related infrastructure become compromised. As our
local food system gains integrity, these concerns will diminish as our food security is improved.
The current industrial model of
food production that is dominant
in our country also creates
unfortunate consequences for the
natural environments we all rely
upon in one way or another; by
growing and producing more of our
food locally, we can reduce our
contribution to the environmental
stresses that a more industrial,
transportation-intensive food
system creates. A stronger local
food system can also combat the
loss of local economic resources—
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
the limited and crucial financial assets of our communities—by ensuring that more of the
money we spend in our communities stays in our communities and creates a multiplier effect
within our local economies. And, at the forefront of the benefits that a strong local food system
can offer are the dramatically improved health and wellness of our residents and the reduction
and eventual elimination of many epidemic health conditions, such as childhood (and adult)
obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
For many reasons, now is the opportune time to expand and solidify our local food
system here in Grant County. Though there is certainly room for improvement in the amount of
public and political education and support for this type of effort in Grant County, substantial
momentum in the direction of “local foods” has been nurtured and has grown in recent years.
The benefits of enhancing our local food system can more rapidly come to fruition if we take
advantage of current momentum and support for growing, producing, and selling more of our
food within our local region.
Finally, aside from the numerous benefits of creating a strong local food system (many
of which are mentioned in this report), perhaps the most compelling reason to embrace a way
of eating and living that is “closer to home” is that this lifestyle is rich with opportunities for
enjoyment. Instead of hurriedly grabbing our foods from the shelves of an impersonal
supermarket, we can meet the conscientious local people who grew the food we are buying,
preparing, eating, and sharing. Instead of wandering the aisles of this same typical
supermarket, shopping alone and without much conversation with others, we can mingle with
and meet our neighbors at our local farmers market. Instead of struggling to find affordable,
accessible, wholesome foods that improve rather than degrade our individual health and often
eating alone or in a hurry, we can learn to love the foods of our region that are both affordable
and available, seek out guidance from those who know how to cook with these ingredients, and
enjoy a lifetime of all-around nourishing, healthful, and sustaining meals with our friends and
families.
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Appendix A
Policymaker Survey Instrument: Interview Questions
Introduction
1. Let’s start by having you tell me something about yourself such as how long have you been in
the City/County government? How long have you been in your current position?
2. How do healthy eating and physical activity policies fit into your political agenda and what
you would like to accomplish during your term as [fill in official’s title here]?
3. How important is healthy eating to the public in this community?
4. How important is active living to the public in this community?
5. What are some of the greatest assets or strengths of this community? (I.e. things that make
Grant County a great place to live and allow people here to work together to get things done.)
Current Policies and Programs
6. Have policies been proposed or enacted in this community to prevent childhood obesity?
a. Probe: When thinking about childhood obesity, please consider policies/efforts that
address better access to healthy foods and physical activity among children and families.
b. Probe: Have you heard about proposals related to…
i. Before/after school programs or activities (e.g., improved nutrition in childcare
centers, walk-to-school programs, etc.)?
ii. Transportation (e.g., complete streets initiatives, bicycle lanes, transportation
plans)?
iii. Zoning bylaws, which make cities more accessible by foot or bicycle (e.g., bicycle
rack requirements for new buildings) or improve accessibility to healthy food
(e.g., grocery stores, farmers markets, community gardens)?
iv. Public safety (e.g., improved park or street lighting, visibility, natural
surveillance)?
v. Increasing equitable access to parks, trails, greenways, and indoor recreation
facilities?
vi. Evaluating or taking an inventory of recreation facilities or programs to see if
they are meeting the needs and preferences of disadvantaged users?
7. Are you aware of current programs related to healthy eating in this community?
a. If “yes,” ask what programs are available? Did any of these programs result from a
change in policy?
b. If ‘no,” what potential programs would they like to see available in this community?
What policies could make that happen?
8. Are you aware of current programs related to physical activity in this community?
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
a. If “yes,” ask what programs are available? Did any of these programs result from a
change in policy?
b. If ‘no,” what potential programs would they like to see available in this community?
What policies could make that happen?
Exploring the Feasibility and Barriers to Potential Policies
9. Would you support the adoption of policies encouraging healthy eating among our children
and families related to:
a. Encouraging the expansion local agriculture through the adoption of—
i. Right-to-farm laws?
ii. Agricultural zoning districts or farm-friendly ordinances?
iii. A County-wide agricultural and farmland protection plan that would be
compatible with the County-wide comprehensive plan?
iv. Adding a chapter on Agriculture and County Food Production to the updated
comprehensive plan?
v. Supporting the development of local farmers markets and community gardens?
vi. Encouraging agricultural tourism in Grant County?
vii. Tax abatement programs for landowners who agree not to develop their land
for a period of years?
viii. Cluster zoning?
ix. Conservation easements?
x. TDR program?
b. Providing political and financial support for the adoption of a Grant County Food Policy
Council?
c. Providing support through tax incentives or other incentives to our local food vendors to
encourage the accessibility and availability of healthy foods?
d. Making available or working with local partners to create a central cold storage
distribution facility?
e. Instituting policies to improve the availability of affordable healthier food and beverage
choices and smaller portion sizes in public services venues such as local government
offices, hospitals, schools, etc.?
f.
Adopting policies to limit advertisements of less healthy food and beverages?
g. Discourage consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and snacks high in fat and salt
content in licensed childcare facilities?
h. Support breastfeeding by creating environments in public venues for mothers to
comfortably breastfeed their children?
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
10. Would you support the adoption of policies encouraging physical activity among our children
and families related to:
a. Joint use agreements between government-owned recreational facilities/land and local
school districts?
b. Adopting a County-wide “complete streets” policy or adding a “complete streets” study
to the transportation element in our City/County comprehensive plan?
c. Supporting bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure such as shared-use paths, increasing
the amount of bike lanes relative to the total street miles?
d. A County-wide trail plan in conjunction with a transportation/mobility element?
e. Ordinances and policies relating to community safety, such as—
i. Banning pit bulls or placing leash restrictions on pets?
f.
Limiting screen time in public service venues such as childcare facilities?
g. Land use policies that link residential neighborhoods to schools and parks via walking
and biking paths?
h. Increasing the quality and maintenance of current recreational facilities and
encouraging new parks, paths, and safe and accessible recreational areas for children to
play?
i.
A specific zoning ordinance for community gardens and local agriculture?
j.
Creating a mixed-use zoning designation that could be applicable to rural areas?
k. Enhancing traffic safety in areas where people are or could be physically active (look at
hot spots/routes in transportation plan element); establishing/promoting a “Safe Routes
to School” program?
**Note: along with each proposal, ask about potential funding sources, the pros/cons of each
proposal, feasibility and potential challenges each proposal would face from the community and/or
political constituents.
Partnerships and Methods of Communication
11. How could this administration/board/office work with other agencies and organizations in the
community to support healthy eating and active living?
12. Do you know of any specific community members or groups who are or could be “champions”
for healthy eating policies?
13. Do you know of any specific community members or groups who are or could be “champions”
for active living policies?
Conclusion
14. How can the Grant County Community Health Council further partner with you to provide
resources, educational awareness, or other means of support to increase healthy eating and
active living policies in Grant County? What healthy eating and active living outcomes would you
like to see for [jurisdiction] in the next 5-10 years?
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Appendix B
Food Producer Survey Instrument: Focus Group Questions
1. What do you like most about being involved in local food production in Grant County?
2. At what local markets do you sell your product?
3. What challenges do you have selling your product at these markets?
a. Financial challenges—Examples: not being able to receive an up-front loan for
needed equipment, taxes on land, selling land once retired, developing
economies of scale, etc.
b. Policy barriers—Examples: absence of policies that encourage convenience
stores and farmers markets to accept WIC vouchers and SNAP to make
purchasing locally produced food more affordable; environmental regulations;
water policies.
c. Lack of infrastructure—Examples: purchasing, growing, processing, transporting,
marketing, selling, etc.
4. What are other potential local markets where you may be able to sell your products?
Prompt: Farmers Market donation program to the Community Food Pantry, grocery
stores, Snappy Marts, schools, restaurants, medical facilities and other institutions.
5. What challenges do you have selling your product at these markets? Examples:
financial, policy barriers, other.
6. What infrastructure, both on and off the farm, would you need to expand your
production?
a. Examples of on-farm infrastructure— irrigation lines, wash stations, workers,
housing.
b. Examples of off-farm infrastructure—packing facility, processing facility, cold
storage facility, cold storage transportation.
7. If you were approached to join a growers’ cooperative that would provide a unified
resource for buyers to locate and purchase directly from growers, and for growers to
share information and collaborate with each other, what would be your response?
8. If you were approached to partner with local land owners to expand your growing
capacity, what would be your response?
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Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
9. How do you typically acquire new information, methods and knowledge to help you
and your farming operation thrive?
Prompt: Who or what sources of information do you trust?
10. Do you view agricultural production as a viable career for youth in Grant County? Why
or why not?
a. Prompt: Ranching, vegetable production, orchardist, greenhouse operations etc.
b. If you were approached to participate in a farm transfer program organized by a
non-profit that connects young, aspiring producers seeking farmland with
retiring producers who wish to see their agricultural land remain active, what
would be your response?
c. If you were approached to participate in an agricultural mentoring program that
connects young adults with experienced producers in order to teach them the
“tricks of the trade,” what would be your response?
11. What motivates you, as a farmer, to come back each year and keep producing or
ranching?
12. What changes can you suggest that would improve the local food system in Grant
County?
52
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Appendix C
Food Producer Survey Instrument: Short Questionnaire
Dear Food Producer in Grant County,
Thank you for coming this evening to participate in a focus group session on local food production in
Grant County. Before we begin, please fill out the following short questionnaire to help the Grant
County Community Health Council better understand you and gauge your level of interest in
expanding local food production. All responses are voluntary and optional. When you complete the
questionnaire, please turn it in to one of the meeting facilitators. Thank you!
1. What products do you currently grow/produce for sale? ___________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. Approximately how many acres do you currently use to grow or raise food for sale?
________________________________________________________________________
3. Approximately how many acres of land do you have available, but are not currently using, to
grow or raise food for sale?__________________________________________
4. Where do you primarily buy your farm supplies and equipment? Please list as many suppliers as
you can, whether it’s a local store, online company, or other sources.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
5. Realistically, what do you see happening to your operation, with regards to food production and
sales, in the next 10-20 years?________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
6. Describe your ideal farm operation: ___________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
53
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
7. Do you believe there is City and County government support for expanding food production in
Grant County? Please circle your answer.
YES / NO
8. Do you believe there is State government support for expanding food production in Grant
County? Please circle your answer.
YES / NO
9. Please mark how interested you would be in the following:
Very
Interested
Somewhat
Interested
Not
Interested
Unsure
A
A central facility to combine produce with that
of other growers for sale to local markets




B
A community kitchen in which you could
prepare value-added products to sell at
farmers markets, grocery stores, and other
local markets




C
Expanding your production in order to grow
food for sale year-round




D
A microloan program




E
Selling to schools and local institutions




F
Joining a growers’ cooperative




G
Offering a Community Supported Agriculture
(CSA) program




H
Working with a Food Policy Council




I
A FarmLink program to connect young farmers
seeking farmland with retiring farmers




J
Partnering with local land owners to expand
production




K
A local small farm processing facility




L
Mentoring young adults interested in
agricultural production as a career




54
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Appendix D
Food Producer Survey Instrument: Producer Survey
Dear Grower/Potential Grower,
Grant County was recently awarded a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Healthy Kids, Healthy
Communities grant to address childhood obesity. Part of this initiative will look at opportunities to
expand local food production. Your responses will help us determine the highest needs and priorities of
local growers. Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete this survey.
1. Where do you currently sell your produce? (Check all that apply)
Bayard Farmers Market
Silver City Farmers Market
Silver City Food Cooperative
Tyrone Mercantile
Other (list) ___________________________________________________________________
Currently do not sell produce
2. Are there any sites listed above at which you have previously sold, but are not currently selling?
Yes (please list sites and reasons) __________________________________________________
No___________________________________________________________________________
3. Are you interested in selling to (check all that apply):
Grocery Stores?
Schools?
Restaurants?
Hospital?
Farmers Market donation programs to food pantries (at a reduced sale price)?
Other? (Describe) _______________________________________________________________
4. Are you interested in a central facility to combine produce with that of other growers for sale to
local institutions (restaurants, grocery stores, etc.)?
Very Interested
Somewhat Interested
Not at all Interested
55
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
5. Are you interested in a community kitchen in which you could prepare value-added products to sell
at farmers markets, grocery stores, etc?
Very Interested
Somewhat Interested
Not at all Interested
6. What capacity do you currently have for growing food for sale year-round?
High Capacity
Medium Capacity
Limited Capacity
No Capacity
7. Are you interested in expanding your capacity in order to grow food for sale year-round?
Yes (Please Explain) ___________________________________________________________
No (Please Explain)____________________________________________________________
8. Would you be interested in a microloan program for growers?
Yes
No
9. Do you have an interest in partnering with local land owners to expand your growing capacity?
Very Interested
Somewhat Interested
Not at all Interested
10. Are there any local land use policies that help or hinder your operations? Please describe:
11. Are there any government programs that help or hinder your operations? Please describe:
12. Are there environmental regulations that help or hinder your operations? Please describe:
13. Please describe any additional barriers that you face as a food grower in Grant County.
14. Approximately how many acres do you currently use to grow food for sale?
15. Approximately how many acres of land do you have available, but are not currently using, to grow
food for sale?
16. Please give the nearest cross streets for the property on which you grow food for sale:
Additional Comments: _______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
56
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Appendix E
Food Vendor Survey Instrument: Store/Venue Audit
Store:________________________________________________________________________________
Address:______________________________________________________________________________
Surveyor:_____________________________________________
Start Time:__________________ am / pm
Date:_____________________
End Time:______________________ am / pm
Type of Store (mark all that apply):
□ Convenience Store
□ Grocery Store □ Chain Superstore
□ Ethnic Store
□ Health food store
□ Food Cooperative
□ Other: ________________________________________________________________
PART I: STORE CAPACITY, AMENITIES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE
1. Indicate the store’s hours of operation:
Mon
_____ to _____
_____ to _____
Tues
_____ to _____
Wed
_____ to _____
Fri
_____ to _____
Sat
_____ to _____
Sun
_____ to _____
Thurs
2. Briefly describe the signage visible outside the store. What products or services are being
advertised? Where are the signs located? (Example: potato chips/large sign/window)
3. Store capacity (circle or write in answers where applicable):

Estimated number of parking spots:
10 or less
11-50
51+

Approximate square footage of store:
500 ft2 or less
501-1999 ft2
2000-10,000 ft2
10,000 ft2 +

Approximate number of refrigerated or frozen (cold) storage units:
0
1-5
6-10
11-20 20+

Approximate location of cold storage units:
Front of store

Next to checkout
Middle of store
Back of store
Is there space available for additional small cold storage units? Yes / No
57
N/A
If yes, where?
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
4. What major goods and services does the store offer? Mark all that apply.
□ ATM/bank
□ Hunting/fishing/camping supplies or licenses
□ Books/cards/gifts
□ Lottery tickets
□ Bread (loaf)
□ Meat (fish, pork, beef, chicken, etc.)
□ Café/restaurant (inside, attached)
□ Meat alternatives (eggs, beans, tofu, etc.)
□ Canned fruits
□ Newspapers/magazines
□ Canned vegetables
□ Packaged food
□ Catering
□ Pasta (uncooked)
□ Cereal (boxed or bagged)
□ Pet or livestock feed
□ Dairy products (only milk or cheese)
□ Pharmacy
□ Delicatessen
□ Photo development
□ Fresh fruits
□ Rice (uncooked)
□ Fresh vegetables
□ School or office supplies
□ Frozen fruits
□ Self-serve snacks/drinks
□ Frozen vegetables
□ Tortillas (any kind)
□ Fuel
□ Vending machines (ice, soda, candy, etc.)
□ Hardware supplies
□ Video rental
5. Does the store sell locally produced food?
□ Yes
□ No
If yes, what products?
6. Does the store sell any of the following types of alcohol? Mark all that apply.
□ Beer (regular) □ Beer (light)
□ Red Wine
□ White Wine
□ Distilled Spirits (80 proof)
7. What percentage of the store’s goods are the following? Circle approximate percentage range.
Prepared foods (grab-n-go)
0%
1-24% 25-49% 50-74% 75-99% 100%
Packaged foods
0%
1-24% 25-49% 50-74% 75-99% 100%
Fresh produce
0%
1-24% 25-49% 50-74% 75-99% 100%
Liquor or soft drinks
0%
1-24% 25-49% 50-74% 75-99% 100%
8. Which of the following forms of payment does the store accept? Mark all that apply.
□ WIC/EBT
□ Check
□ Store credit
□ Cash only
□ Credit cards (Visa/MasterCard/American Express/Other)
58
□ Other:___________________
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
PART II: HEALTHY FOOD AVAILABILITY, COST, AND QUALITY
ITEMS
Variety
/ Brand
Desired
Qty.
Unit
Actual
Qty.
Price
(Lowest)
Reg.
Price
Quality
Fruits and Vegetables, fresh
Apples
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Bananas
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Grapes
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Melon
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Oranges
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Carrots
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Celery
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Green peppers
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Lettuce, leaf (green or red)
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Onions, yellow
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Tomatoes
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Potatoes
5 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Mandarin oranges, canned
15 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Peaches, canned
29 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
4 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
26 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
8 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Orange juice, concentrate, frozen
12 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Broccoli, chopped, frozen
16 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Fruits and Vegetables, canned
Mushrooms, pieces, canned
Spaghetti sauce
Tomato sauce
Fruits and Vegetables, frozen
59
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Green beans, frozen
16 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Green peas, frozen
16 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
French fries, frozen
32 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Bread, white
24 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Bread, whole wheat
24 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Corn tortillas
20 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Corn flakes
18 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Milk, 2% fat
1 gal.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Milk, whole
1 gal.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Cheese, cheddar
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Beef, ground, lean
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Chicken, fryer, cut-up or whole
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Eggs, grade A large
1 doz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Breads, Cereals, and other Grain Products
Dairy Products, fresh
Meat and Meat Alternatives, fresh
Peanut Butter
18 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
15.5 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
1 lb.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Vegetable Oil, any type
48 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Jelly, grape
32 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Green Chile, chopped, canned
4.5 oz.
□ Good □ Average □ Poor
Pinto Beans, canned
Other Food Items
Margarine, stick
60
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Appendix F
Food and Agriculture Organizations in Grant County, New Mexico
Organization
4-H
Contact Information
Judy O’Loughlin
Grant County Extension Service
2610 N. Silver St., Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 388-1559
judyo@nmsu.edu
Aldo Leopold High School
(food class—every Fall
semester)
Chris Jepson
1422 Hwy. 180 East, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 538-2547 or (575) 313-5817
cjepson@grmc.org
Bayard Farmers Market
(May-October)
Nancy Hamlett or Laurie Morehead
Bayard Lions Club, 808 Tom Foy Blvd./Hwy. 180, Bayard, NM
Wednesdays, 3 pm - 6 pm
Nancy Hamlett: (575) 313-6883 or hamlett1964@yahoo.com
Laurie Morehead: (575) 537-5014 or
bayardfarmersmarket@gmail.com
Alicia Edwards
915 N. Santa Rita St., Silver City, NM 88061
Business: (575) 388-2988
Cell: (575) 313-3371
director@tvcgrantcounty.org
http://www.tvcgrantcounty.org
Community Gardens
(general information)
Copper CowBelles
Pat Hunt
PO Box 307, Silver City, NM 88062
(575) 534-7649
arroyomangus@yahoo.com or coppercowbelles@hotmail.com
http://www.coppercowbelles.com
Farm Bureau Financial
Services
4505 Hwy. 180 East
Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 538-5864
https://www.fbfs.com
Future Farmers of America
(FFA)
Judy O’Loughlin
Grant County Extension Service
2610 N. Silver St.
Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 388-1559
judyo@nmsu.edu
61
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Gila Growers Market and
Cooperative (May-October)
Gluten Freedom Support
Group
JJ and Teleah Dabbs
#414 Hwy. 211, Gila, NM
Tuesdays, 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm
(575) 535-2729
jjdabbs@yahoo.com
Rachel Bighley
rachelbighley@yahoo.com
Grant County Cattle Growers
Association
Grant County Fitness and
Nutrition Community Action
Group (a working group of
the Grant County
Community Health Council)
Grant County Food Policy
Council
Tammy Oglivie, Secretary
(575) 535-2975
Mary Stoecker
3031 Hwy. 180 East, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 538-8573 x 120
Mary.Stoecker@State.NM.US
Guadalupe Montessori
School
Martha Egnal
1731 N. Alabama St., Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 388-3343
marthaegnal@yahoo.com
http://www.guadalupemontessori.org
1313 E. 32nd Street, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 388-1198
www.GrantCountyHKHC.com
Healthy Kids, Healthy
Communities
1400 Hwy. 180 East, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 534-0000
www.GrantCountyNM.com/food
Hidalgo Medical ServicesFamily Support Division
K’Dawn Jackson
1105 N. Pope St. #2, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 534-0248 ext. 227
kjackson@hmsnm.org
Income Support Division
Corina Rivera
3088 32nd St. Bypass, Suite A, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 538-2948 ext. 1023
Corina.Rivera@state.nm.us
Mimbres Valley Farmers
Market (May-October)
Sonny Johnson or Misty Blue
La Tienda, Intersection of San Francisco Rd. & Hwy. 35
Mimbres, NM
Thursdays, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
(575) 574-7674 (Sonny) or (575) 536-3374 (Misty)
sonnybluebird@gmail.com
www.mimbresfarmersmarket.blogspot.com
62
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Mimbres Valley Health
Action League
Kate Brown
PO Box 137, Mimbres, NM 88049
(575) 536-9935
katebrown@gilanet.com
http://www.mvhal.org
Natural Resource
Richard Olson
Conservation Service
3082 32nd St. Bypass, Suite C, Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 388-1569
Fax: (575) 388-0376
Richard.Olson@nm.usda.gov
New Mexico State University Pete Walden
Cooperative Extension-Grant 2610 N. Silver St., Silver City, NM 88061
County Office
(575) 388-1559
Fax: 575-388-1550
grant@nmsu.edu
http://grantextension.nmsu.edu
Silver City Farmers Market
Linda Bartlett
(May-October)
Silver City Mainstreet Plaza—off Bullard St. between 7th and
8th Streets, by the Big Ditch, Silver City, NM
Saturdays, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Business: (575) 534-0002
Cell: (575) 654-4104
lchiefcoon@yahoo.com or silvercityfarmersmarket@gmail.com
http://silvercityfarmersmarket.blogspot.com
Silver City Food Cooperative Doug Zilm
520 N. Bullard St., Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 388-2343
Doug@silvercityfoodcoop.com
Southwest New Mexico
Green Chamber of
Commerce “Local Food
Committee”
The Volunteer Center
Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC)
Doug Zilm
520 N. Bullard St., Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 388-2343
Doug@silvercityfoodcoop.com
Alicia Edwards
915 N. Santa Rita St., Silver City, NM 88061
Business: (575) 388-2988
Cell: (575) 313-3371
director@tvcgrantcounty.org
http://www.tvcgrantcounty.org
Brandi Warhank
(575) 388-9353
brandi.warhank@state.nm.us
63
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
Endnotes
1
Diamond, Jared. Collapse. New York: Viking Penguin, 2005. Print.
2
U.S. Census Bureau: State & County QuickFacts (Grant County, NM). Updated October 2011.
United States Census Bureau. Online. Accessed by B. Williams on 12/21/11.
<http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/35/35017.html>
3
2007 USDA Census of Agriculture. Updated December 2009. United States Department of
Agriculture. Online. Accessed by B. Williams on 12/21/11.
<http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/index.asp>
4
USDA Economic Research Service (Local Food Systems: Concepts, Impacts, and Issues.). Updated
May 2010. United States Department of Agriculture. Online. Accessed by B. Williams on
12/21/11. <http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR97/ERR97_ReportSummary.html>
5
AeroFarms (From the Frontier: The AeroFarms Blog). AeroFarms: The Future of Urban Agriculture.
Online. Accessed by B. Williams on 12/21/11. <http://aerofarms.com/2010/06/local-foodsystems-concepts-impacts-and-issues/>
6
McCallum, Matt. "Benefitting from new Guidelines" The Free Library. Updated September 2011.
Online. Accessed by B. Williams on 12/21/11.
<http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Benefitting+from+new+Guidelines.-a0270532563>
7
Same as Endnote 2.
8
Your Food Environment Atlas. 2006-2011. United States Department of Agriculture. Online.
Accessed by B. Williams on 12/21/11. <http://maps.ers.usda.gov/FoodAtlas/>
9
Same as Endnote 8.
10
Same as Endnote 8.
11
Grant County Food Policy Council, 2010.
12
Same as Endnote 8.
13
Grant County Community Health Council, 2011.
14
Community Health Improvement Profile 2007. Grant County Community Health Council. Online.
Accessed by B. Williams on 12/21/11. < http://www.gcchc.org/id49.htm>
15
Results from HKHC surveys conducted in Spring 2010.
16
Same as Endnote 15.
64
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
17
Same as Endnote 15.
18
“Spring 2010 Community Assessment”. Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities. 2010.
19
“Consumer Expenditures in 2010”. Consumer Expenditure Survey. Updated September 27, 2011.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Online. Accessed by A. Sauer on 2/8/12
<http://www.bls.gov/cex/#tables>
20
“2010 U.S. Census Interactive Population Search”. U.S. Census Bureau. Grant County, New
Mexico. Online. Accessed by A. Sauer on 2/8/12
<http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=35>
21
“Soil Survey of Grant County, New Mexico- Central and Southern Parts”. U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 1983. Online. Accessed by A. Sauer on 8/23/2011.
<http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/Manuscripts/NM662/0/gsm.pdf>
22
“Specialty Soil Survey Map” U.S. Geological Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service, ESRI, and TANA. Online. Accessed by A. Sauer on 2/8/12.
<http://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/Specialty/Soil_Survey_Map/MapServe
r>
23
“Freeze/Frost Data”. National Climatic Data Center. 1988. Online. Accessed by B. Williams on
12/21/11. <http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/freezefrost/freezefrost.pdf>
24
“Fort Bayard, New Mexico Average Temperature”. Average-Temperature.com. 2008. Accessed by
B. Williams on 12/21/11. <http://www.averagetemperature.com/temps/NM/Fort%20Bayard>
25
United State Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service and Oregon State
University PRISM group. Online. Accessed by A. Sauer on 2/8/12.
<http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/Images/300dpi/NM.jpg>
26
Oregon State University. Prism Group and Oregon Climate Service. 2006. Online. Accessed by A.
Sauer on 2/8/12. <http://prism.oregonstate.edu/pub/prism/state_ppt/newmexico300.png>
27
“Real-Time Data for New Mexico: Streamflow”. U.S. Geological Survey. 2011. Online. Accessed by
B. Williams on 2/20/12.
<http://waterdata.usgs.gov/NM/nwis/current?type=flow&group_key=county_cd&search_si
te_no_station_nm>
65
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
28
Belin, Alletta; Bokum, Consuelo; Titus, Frank. Taking Charge of Our Water Destiny: A Water
Management Policy Guide for New Mexico in the 21st Century. Albuquerque: 1000 Friends of
New Mexico, 2002. Print. Also available online at
<http://www.gilaconservation.org/Text/Taking_Charge_of_our_%20Water_Destiny.pdf>
29
Same as Endnote 28.
30
Same as Endnote 28.
31
Same as Endnote 28.
32
Same as Endnote 28.
33
Regional Water Demand Study for Southwest New Mexico: Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna
Counties. 2010. AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. Online. Accessed by B. Williams on
12/21/11.
<http://www.awsaplanning.com/Studies_files/FINAL%20report%20SW%20Demand.pdf>
34
New Mexico Office of the State Engineer. Currently Active Points of Diversion, with Ownership
Information, Grant County, NM. Online. Accessed by A. Sauer on 2/8/12.
<http://nmwrrs.ose.state.nm.us/nmwrrs/wellSurfaceDiversion.html>
35
New Mexico Water Resources Assessment for Planning Purposes. 1976. U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation. Print.
36
2007 USDA Census of Agriculture. Updated December 2009. United States Department of
Agriculture. Online. Accessed by B. Williams on 12/21/11.
<http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/index.asp>
37
Same as Endnote 36.
38
Same as Endnote 36.
39
Same as Endnote 36.
40
Meter, Ken. “Transition Plateaus, Mountains, and Gila River region Local Farm & Food Economy”.
Crossroads Resource Center. 2009. Online. Accessed by B. Williams on 12/21/11.
<http://www.crcworks.org/bioneers/6gilasum09.pdf>
41
Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities, 2010.
42
Walden, Pete. “Economic Impact of Ranching in Grant County and New Mexico”. New Mexico
State University. 2009.
66
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
43
2007 USDA Census of Agriculture. Updated December 2009. United States Department of
Agriculture. Online. Accessed by B. Williams on 12/21/11.
<http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/index.asp>
44
Results from HKHC surveys conducted in Spring 2010.
45
Same as Endnote 44.
46
Same as Endnote 44.
47
Same as Endnote 44.
48
Same as Endnote 44.
49
Same as Endnote 44.
50
Town of Silver City Comprehensive Plan. 2004. Online. Accessed by B. Williams on 12/21/11.
<http://www.townofsilvercity.org/comp_plan/ToSC_Comprehensive_Plan_2004.pdf>
51
Town of Silver City Land Use and Zoning Code. 2010. Online. Accessed by B. Williams on 12/21/11.
< http://www.townofsilvercity.org/r/legal_notes/Ord_1174_adopt_revised_LUC.pdf>
52
Town of Silver City Trails and Open Spaces Plan. 2002. Print.
53
Village of Santa Clara Comprehensive Plan. 2006. Online. Accessed by B. Williams on 12/21/11.
<http://www.silvercity.org/Reprints/VSC%20Comp%20Plan%20Draft2.pdf>
54
Village of Santa Clara Economic Development Plan. 2006. Print.
55
City of Bayard Comprehensive Plan. 2005. Online. Accessed by B. Williams on 12/21/11.
<http://www.silvercity-business.com/Bayard/Bayard_Comp_Plan_Draft2b.pdf>
56
City of Bayard Economic Development Plan. 2003. Print.
57
Town of Hurley Comprehensive Plan. 2005. Print.
58
Grant County Comprehensive Plan. 2004. Print.
59
Grant County Subdivision Regulations. 1997. Print.
60
Craig, Maureen. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. Southwest New Mexico Council
of Governments. 2010-2015. Online. Accessed by B. Williams 12/21/11.
<http://swnmcog.org/images/Approved_CEDS_2010-2015.pdf>
67
Local Food Assessment Report-Grant County, New Mexico
A Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities Publication
Editors: Andrea Sauer, Ben Williams
Publication Date: March 2012, 1st Edition
Special Thanks to Alicia Edwards, Carolyn Smith, and Marilyn Alcorn for their review of the
entire report and for providing valuable comments and suggestions; to Peter Day, owner of
Townside Farm, for taking the time to share his farm’s story with us; to Allyson Siwik, for
sharing her water-related expertise during several conversations and for providing us with a
handful of invaluable resources and reports; and finally, to the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation for their generous support, which has made possible all steps involved in creating
this report.
We would love to hear from you!—Some of the information in this report will undoubtedly change over time; if you
believe any of the information presented is no longer accurate, or if you find other errors or have additional
feedback, please e-mail your suggested changes to healthcouncil@grmc.org. An online, website-based version (pdf)
will be available shortly, and all changes will be incorporated into this version of the report to keep it as up-to-date
as possible. Finally, though we will be distributing this report (primarily in electronic format) to as many people as
possible, if you know of someone who would benefit from this resource, please pass along a copy, refer them to the
above e-mail, or direct them to the website(s)—once available—where links to the latest version of this report are
posted.
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