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Home-Based Food Processing Rule Goes Into Effect Jan. 1
Post Date: January 2, 2010
The NM Environment Department issued this release declaring that the home processing rules advocated for by Farm to Table and the NM Farmers’ Marketing Association are now in effect. Application forms are available at http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/fod/Food_Program/HomeBasedProcessing.htm. If you need assistance with filling forms out or have questions, feel free to contact Ilana Blankman at ilana.blankman@gmail.com or 505-473-1004 x 12.
December 30, 2009 Contact: Marissa Stone Bardino, NMED Communications Director
For Immediate Release (505) 827-0314 or (505) 231-0475
Home-Based Food Processing Rule Goes Into Effect Jan. 1
Those Offering Home-Based Foods Must Have State Permit to Sell Goods
(Santa Fe, N.M.) A rule change will go into effect Jan. 1 that requires those who sell home-based food products to have a permit issued by the New Mexico Environment Department.
That permit will allow the sale of non-potentially hazardous foods that can be prepared in home-based food processing operations within state jurisdiction. Those foods include yeast and quick breads, cookies, cakes, tortillas, high sugar pies and pastries, high-sugar jam and jellies, dry mixes (made from commercial ingredients), candy and fudge. Those foods do not support the rapid and progressive growth of infectious and toxicogenic microorganisms, including Clostridium botulinium responsible for foodborne disease.
- The following other changes will go into effect under the rule change, 7.6.2 NMAC-Food Service and Food Processing Regulations:
- Home-based processed foods can only be sold at farmers markets, roadside stands, fairs, and fiestas located within NMED’s jurisdiction.
- Home-based foods can not be sold to or made available to retail stores for resale or sold through the Internet.
- If applicable, those foods must be packaged in food grade packaging and labeled. The label must include the statement “home-based food product.”
- Those selling home-based foods must attend or have attended within the last 5 years an NMED approved food safety training course.
- The home-based food processing operation must have an approved water and waste water disposal and treatment system.
- The residential areas designated as part of the home-based food processing operation are subject to inspection by NMED.
- The rule applies only to areas under NMED’s jurisdiction.
The food permit costs $100 a year. To obtain a permit to operate, a seller can submit an application to a local NMED field office. The application package is available at http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/fod/Food_Program/HomeBasedProcessing.htm or at your local NMED field office.
Topics: Uncategorized |
Rule Change Allows Food Producers to Process Low-Risk Foods in Home Kitchens
Post Date: October 22, 2009
On October 6, 2009 the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board approved a rule change that will allow certain products to be processed in home kitchens for sale at farmers’ markets, farm stands and other direct to the consumer venues. The rule change was proposed by the NM Farmers’ Marketing Association, the NM Food and Agriculture Policy Council and Farm to Table. These groups worked closely with the NM Environment Department to develop a rule that would protect public health while making it easier for small-scale food producers.
Home-based food processors will be required to obtain a permit from the Environment Department. To do so, they will need to attend a food safety training, develop an operational plan, have their kitchen inspected and pay a $100 annual fee. It will take several months for the Environment Department to get this program up and running, so stay tuned for updates and resources. For more information on the rule change, please contact Ilana Blankman of Farm to Table at 505-473-1004 x 12 or ilana.blankman@gmail.com.
Topics: Policy Updates |
Hearing on Proposed Rule Change to Allow Small-Scale Food Producers to Use Home Kitchens
Post Date: September 4, 2009
In response to requests from numerous producers and farmers’ market vendors, the NM Farmers’ Marketing Association has partnered with the NM Food and Agriculture Policy Council and Farm to Table to petition for a rule change that would allow people to prepare certain foods in their home kitchen for sale direct to consumers. Currently, the rules enforced by the state Environment Department require that anyone who is selling processed foods prepare those foods in a commercial kitchen.
The costs of building and equipping a commercial kitchen are generally too high for small-scale food producers to afford, and many potential rural food producers do not have easy access to a rental commercial kitchen. At the same time, we believe that small-scale food processing provides an important entrepreneurial opportunity as well as an opportunity for consumers to purchase locally produced foods. Food processing can also add value to farm products.
While existing rules are intended to protect the safety of consumers, we believe that it is possible for food producers to prepare foods safely at home, under certain conditions. While final details continue to be worked out, the proposed rule would allow food producers to produce non-potentially hazardous foods (like baked goods, high sugar jams and jellies, and dry mixes) in their home kitchens. The home processors would only be allowed to sell these products direct to the consumer, for example at a farmers’ market, on-farm stand, or holiday fair. Before selling the product, the home processor would need to attend a food safety training, apply for a permit and have an inspection from the Environment Department. Home processors would likely be required to pay a fee, but the specific amount has yet to be determined.
The proposed rule change will be heard by the Environment Improvement Board, an official state board that has the authority to change the New Mexico Administrative Code. The hearing will occur on October 5 at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Public comment is welcome at the hearing. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please contact Ilana Blankman, Farm to Table, at 505-473-1004×12 or ilana.blankman@gmail.com
Topics: Meetings, Policy Updates |
New Resource: Federal Funding Opportunities for Agriculture and Food Gap Projects
Post Date: January 29, 2009
There are lots of great opportunities to obtain federal funding for your agricultural project. Click here to download this handy Federal Funding Opportunities Matrix.
Topics: Uncategorized |
Washington Post Article on a United Food Policy
Post Date: January 26, 2009
An excellent op-ed , written by Jane Black, was published in the Washington Post on moving forward with national food policy. Click here to read: Go Slow Foodies, It’s the Way to Win.
Topics: Uncategorized |
Legislature 2009: Briefing Sheets
Post Date: January 19, 2009
The NM Food and Agriculture Policy Council has identified three priorities for the 2009 State Legislature which begins on January 20th. These priorities are:
- New Mexico Grown Produce in School Lunches: requests $3.3 million to the Dept of Agriculture to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables for school lunches, New Mexico grown when available. The requested funding would allow school food service buyers to provide two additional servings of fresh fruits/vegetables to the 180,000 NM schoolchildren that currently participate in school lunches, most of whom come from low-income families. The program would not only help children to develop lifelong healthy eating habits, but also would provide much needed revenue to farmers and rural communities. For each dollar spent buying food directly from farmers, at least $1.80 recirculates in the local economy.
- Access to Healthy Foods Act: requests $200,000 for pilot projects to develop storage, refrigeration and distribution infrastructure needed to increase access to healthy foods in rural and underserved communities. More than one third of NM’s counties have low or very low food access (meaning nearly everyone has to travel more that 10 miles to the nearest grocery store). This bill would help to improve food access and provide economic development opportunities in the communities that need it most.
- A proposal to change the anti-donation clause to allow for economic development assistance to be provided to small and medium-sized food retail outlets.
Further information on the first two priorities is included in our briefing sheets. Click on the title to download:
Briefing Sheet–NM Grown Produce in School Meals
Briefing Sheet: Access to Healthy Foods
For more information on these and other Policy Council priorities during the legislative session, please email us at info@farmtotablenm.org.
If you are interested in helping to advocate for these bills, take a look at Farm to Table’s Farm to Table’s Action Guide, Legislature 2009.
Topics: Policy Updates, Take Action |
New Resource: A Food Systems Approach to Health and Wealth in New Mexico
Post Date: January 19, 2009
This power point provides an introduction to the New Mexico food system and discusses existing challenges and opportunities that the food system presents to healthy people, healthy communities, and a healthy economy. Click here to download A Food System Approach to Cultivating Health and Wealth. If you have any questions about the document, please email info@farmtotablenm.org.
Topics: Resources & Publications |
New Publication: Good News For Local Foods in the Farm Bill
Post Date: December 22, 2008
The 2008 Farm Bill had lots of great new programs to help producers and food-related community organizations, now it’s up to us to take advantage of these funding opportunities to build our local food system. To help you figure out which of these programs may benefit you or your organization, we’ve created a brief guide. Click here to download Good News For Local Foods in the Farm Bill.
Topics: Policy Updates, Resources & Publications |
New Publication: Report to the Governor on Closing New Mexico’s Food Gap
Post Date: December 22, 2008
This month, the NM Food Gap Task Force presented its report, Closing New Mexico’s Food Gap, to Governor Richardson, Lt. Governor Denish and the NM State Legislature. The Task Force was convened as a result of the passage of House Joint Memorial 10 in 2007 which called on the Governor to appoint a task force to study challenges to food access in the state and to provide recommendations to increase the ability of all New Mexicans to access healthy, affordable and culturally significant foods. The Task Force was composed of representatives of the Departments of Health, Human Services, Agriculture, Transportation, Aging and Long-Term Services, and Indian Affairs as well as representatives from the NM Food and Agriculture Policy Council, the Mid-Region Council of Governments and Legal Aid. The Task Force met monthly from July through November to study the issue and develop the report.
Click here to read the Executive Summary.
Click here to download the Full Report.
Topics: Policy Updates, Resources & Publications |
New Tool: How YOU Can Help Promote Healthy Food System Policies
Post Date: December 16, 2008
The NM State Legislature will be meeting from January 20th to March 21,st 2009 and we need your help before and during the session to make sure legislators hear our call for healthy, New Mexico-grown foods for kids and all New Mexicans. We know that everyone is busy, but we also know that you care deeply about these issues, so we’re making it easy to help. By clicking here you can download Farm to Table’s Action Guide 2009. The four page guide provides options for how to contact your legislator, what to say and how to answer any questions you might get. Take a look and if you have any questions, the staff of Farm to Table are on call to help–call or email Farm to Table at 505-473-1004 or info@farmtotablenm.org.
Topics: Take Action |
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