Farm To Table Frequently Asked Questions
What is Farm to Table?
Farm to Table is a 501c(3) non-profit organization based in Santa Fe, New Mexico that focuses on linking local food and fiber production to local needs by improving communities’ access to nutritious, affordable, locally grown and culturally significant foods.
How was Farm to Table created?
Farm to Table was created in 1996 as the Friends of the Farmers’ Markets (FOFM), and initially focused on farmers’ market development in New Mexico. In 2001, FOFM renamed itself Farm to Table and expanded its mission to include its current program areas and vision.
What is Farm to Table’s Mission Statement?
To promote locally based agriculture through education, community outreach and networking. Farm to Table enhances marketing opportunities for farmers; encourages family farming, farmers’ markets and the preservation of agricultural traditions; influences public policy; and, furthers understanding of the links between farming, food, health and local economies.
What Areas Does Farm to Table Focus On?
Farm to Table works in three areas; (1) improving marketing opportunities for farmers and ranchers, (2) coordinating food and agriculture policy initiatives, and (3) educating children and adults about the importance of supporting local agriculture and of knowing where their food comes from.
What are Farm to Table’s Programs?
Farm to Table has three main program areas:
1.) New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council:
Farm to Table initiated the Policy Council in 2002 to provide a forum for a broad-based group of organizations, agencies and individuals to work on food and agriculture issues. The Policy Council’s membership includes representatives from health, social services, agriculture and environment. Committees educate one another, their respective organizations, agencies and policy makers about program and policy issues that strengthen agriculture, health and local economies.
2.) Farm to School / Farm to Cafeteria:
Since 2001, Farm to Table and its partners have been instrumental in the development of Farm to Cafeteria programs, linking farmers and their fresh foods with meals and snacks in school cafeterias. Currently, the Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Taos school districts are purchasing NM grown fruits and vegetables, with more than 100,000 schoolchildren benefiting from these programs, and have plans to expand Farm to Cafeteria programs to New Mexico’s rural communities. Farm to Table also links New Mexico students to local farms, school gardens and healthy eating through classroom education.
3.) Southwest Marketing Network (SWMN):
The purpose of the SWMN is to improve the economic viability of limited resource farmers, ranchers and organizations in the Southwest (NM, CO, UT, AZ and Tribal Lands). Farmers and ranchers are provided with business management tools, marketing strategies, technical and financial assistance, crop insurance information and peer examples needed to improve their marketing success. Community-based organizations receive technical assistance to develop farmers’ markets and programs that improve access to healthy foods. SWMN also provides quarterly newsletters to 3,400 participants and holds an annual conference.
How is Farm to Table supported?
Farm to Table operates with a number of grants, from a variety of federal, state and local organizations.