A record number of early learning centers in New Mexico will be recognized for their efforts to serve locally grown food to children and seniors. The awards will be presented at the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque.
The Golden Chile Awards, created by the New Mexico Grown Coalition in 2021, honor organizations that support good nutrition and promote the state’s agricultural economy. The Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) is one of several agencies and groups working to improve local food systems across New Mexico.
“We are so pleased to honor all the participants who have helped New Mexico create a robust local food system that expands the market for farmers and ranchers while providing nutritious food to children and seniors,” said ECECD Deputy Secretary Kendal Chavez. “For attendees of the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference, it is a great opportunity to see for themselves the people behind the success of New Mexico’s nation-leading food initiative.”
The Golden Chile Awards recognize four levels of achievement: Seed, Sprout, Blossom, and Golden Chile. Of this year’s 24 honored child care and early learning providers, about half achieved advanced recognition.
The top-tier Golden Chile award went to A Gold Star Academy & Child Development Center in Farmington, Christina Kent Early Childhood Center in Albuquerque, and Future Generations, LLC in Clovis.
Other centers were recognized at different levels:
- Blossom: Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces; Count Your Blessings Preschool (Moriarty); East Gate Kids Early Learning Center (Albuquerque); ECHO Aztec Preschool; Kidzo Children’s Christian Development Center (Clovis); Kingdom Builders Preschool & Daycare (Albuquerque); La Esperanza Preschool (Rio Rancho); My Kiddos Too (Roswell); New Mexico Early Learning Academy (Albuquerque/East Mountains); Western Heights Learning Center (Albuquerque).
- Sprout: Arcoiris Development Center (Sunland Park); Kids Kountry Place (Las Cruces); La Vida Felicidad Early Learning Center (Los Lunas); Pueblo of Isleta Head Start & Child Care; Region 9 Head Start & Early Head Start (Ruidoso); Southwest Child Care Early Learning Center (Albuquerque).
- Seed: Little Castle Learning and Development Center (Artesia); Little Footprints (Hatch); New Mexico Children First (Sunland Park); Precious Moments Early Learning Center (Albuquerque); The Hive Education (Sunland Park).
This announcement republishes information from a New Mexico Department of Health release. The full list of winners—including schools, senior centers, food hubs, and producers—can be found in the original press release at “Schools, senior centers & farmers honored for promoting New Mexico-grown food.”
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham established ECECD in 2020 as one of the first cabinet-level agencies nationwide dedicated solely to early childhood programs. Since then, ECECD has increased access to free PreK programs and invested heavily in early childhood infrastructure while implementing no-cost child care for most families statewide. More details on ECECD's work are available at nmececd.org.
