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Initiated through grassroots activism in 2003, the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council is a democratic organization composed of groups and individuals working on issues around food and agriculture systems. It educates those affected by these issues and develops and advocates for specific policy recommendations and alternatives at the local, state and national levels.

Please click here for more information about the Policy Council's goals and members. Please click here to see our Annual Priorities.

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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 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:

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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