The National Farm to School Network will hold its annual National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque from December 1 to December 4 at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The event aims to highlight New Mexico’s efforts in providing local and healthy food options for children in schools and early childhood programs.
The conference is expected to bring together advocates, educators, farmers, and community leaders from across the country. Participants will focus on promoting nutritious food choices in school and child care settings. The theme of this year’s conference is “Rooted in Culture, Growing for the Future.” Staff from the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) will lead site visits that demonstrate how early childhood programs are implementing farm-to-school practices, such as preparing meals from scratch and maintaining gardens where children can learn about fresh ingredients.
“ECECD is proud to work alongside New Mexico growers to bring fresh, locally sourced foods into early childhood programs statewide. Introducing young children to nourishing ingredients early in life strengthens both their long-term health and our local food economy, while celebrating the cultures and traditions at the heart of our communities,” said ECECD Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky. “We look forward to welcoming national leaders to New Mexico and showcasing how we are building a food system that nourishes every child from the very beginning.”
Health Secretary Gina DeBlassie added, “It’s an honor to have the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference held in New Mexico. The conference highlights Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s food initiatives for New Mexico and includes programs on building a farm-to-school garden system and teaching farmers how to help support that system, which will benefit farmers and schools in the state and country.”
Passion Rutledge, finance and operations director for the National Farm to School Network, said, “We chose New Mexico as our host site because it stands as a national model for turning grassroots, community-led food justice efforts into real policy. From Healthy Universal School Meals program to statewide local purchasing initiatives and deep partnerships with Tribal communities, the country has a lot to learn from the people of New Mexico.”
In 2022, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham introduced a comprehensive Food Initiative aimed at improving food security while supporting economic resilience among farmers and ranchers throughout the state.
The conference agenda includes more than 40 workshops as well as field trips to farms and schools, hands-on classes, and presentation of the Golden Chile Awards recognizing excellence in farm-to-cafeteria work.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham established ECECD in 2020 by consolidating all early childhood services under one agency. Since then, ECECD has expanded access to free PreK programs across New Mexico, managed significant investments in early childhood infrastructure, and implemented cost-free child care for most families.
Further details about registration for the event are available at 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference.
