The Importance of Protecting Our Local Food Shed

We hope this email finds you healthy, secure, and embracing time with your family and friends, and strengthening your community during these challenging times. This shocking break from our normal routines has given us time for reflecting on what is most important to us and to recognize the many things we took for granted. Simple ordinary things such as socializing with family and friends, a handshake or hug, eating meals out, meeting up with friends for a coffee or beer, sports activities, and full grocery shelves are no longer a part of our everyday lives. And in many ways, social distancing for the health and safety of the community has brought us even closer together. Many positive outcomes are occurring.  Families are spending more time together, we are cooking at home, eating meals with our families has replaced the fast-paced lives that kept us on the go and often apart. Our lives are suddenly less cluttered with activities giving us the space to relish a sunset, play with our children, check in on friends and family, plant a vegetable garden, take a walk, and enjoy our breathtaking and vast landscape. Crisis and challenges are moving us to adapt and rethink our priorities. On March 19th, Homeland Security deemed agriculture necessary infrastructure. RGALT’s work to protect agricultural land and water, our local foodshed, is more important than ever. Suddenly access to food has become a top priority for all of us.  Food security is becoming a concern as grocery store shelves are emptied and transport systems are overwhelmed. Getting food from farmers’ fields to markets to people has become challenging. It has spurred the local farm and food businesses to action, creating new business models to ensure our communities have access to local food.

Spring has arrived and natural cycles remain consistent. The spring bird migration is underway. Kingfishers, vermilion flycatchers, and other neotropical birds are flitting about the valley. The seagulls nesting in the middle Rio Grande have returned. Farmers are out in their farm fields preparing for planting, fields are being watered, and spring crops are being harvested. And as always, farmers are adapting to the changes and challenges of feeding the community. New Mexico farmers are planting more than ever and are planting a broader variety of crops in order to help provide food security in our local communities. And consumers are reaching out to us farmers to find out what we are growing and how we are marketing our products.

In many parts of the United States, farmers’ markets have been shut down. Here in NM, farmers and market managers worked with the Governor’s office to ensure the markets are open and are considered essential food sources along with grocery stores. The markets will open as scheduled and vendors will be limited to farmers only.  Customers will be able to purchase their food quickly and safely and are asked to avoid socializing. Meanwhile, many farmers are joining together to form Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) businesses and opening local food stores. These CSA businesses will provide customers weekly access to fresh local food via home delivery or pick-up and new local farm food shops are remaining open.

You can learn more about CSAs and local farm shops in your area at: https://www.ediblenm.com/support-local-guide

You can find your local farmers’ market and more information about openings at: https://farmersmarketsnm.org/find-a-market

This break from “normalcy” inspires creative thinking, business opportunities, and an opportunity for positive changes that will make us more resilient and more considerate of our local foodshed.  Together we can make our communities more resilient. Supporting our local businesses is essential. YOU can make a difference here at home. Eat Local. Buy Local. Join RGALT in our efforts to protect agricultural land and water, YOUR local foodshed.

Become an RGALT Member for only $10/month or an annual contribution.

Please join RGALT in protecting NM’s agriculture for a more viable and vibrant future!

Warmest regards,
Cecilia Rosacker
RGALT Executive Director and Middle Rio Grande Farmer