Dear friends,

On behalf of the NM Food and Agriculture Policy Council, we hope you will consider calling, emailing or writing Governor Susana Martinez immediately to ask her to sign the New Mexico Legislature's recommendation to fund the:

1) New Mexico Grown Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for School Meals $250,000 recurring towards school purchases of New Mexico grown fresh fruits and vegetables for school meals serving students statewide.

2) Double Up Food Bucks for Farmers Markets $400,000 recurring recommended for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP) participants to stretch their food dollars at 32 New Mexico farmers markets the process SNAP transactions.

3) Food Infrastructure capital outlay for the Espanola "food hub" and Rio Grande Development Corporation.

The Governor can be reached in several ways:

Call: 505-476-2200.  You can also leave a direct message with her Policy Analyst Tiffany Smyth.

Email: http://www.governor.state.nm.us/Contact_the_Governor.aspx

Send a Letter to (click here or in side bar for sample letter):

Susana Martinez, Governor

State Capitol Building

490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Suite 400

Santa Fe, NM  87501

The purpose of New Mexico Grown Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for School Meals appropriation is to support:

• The purchase of New Mexico grown, fresh from the farm, fruits and vegetables to provide students with school meals that will encourage them to eat fresh produce for the rest of their lives.
• Augmenting school nutrition programs by providing more New Mexico grown fresh fruits and vegetables, assisting schools in meeting federal Child Nutrition school meal rules.
• Strengthening New Mexico's farming economy and agricultural legacy by increasing market opportunities for small and mid-scale producers across the state.

The Double Up Food Bucks Program (SNAP) appropriation will:

• Serve nearly 400,000 SNAP participants at 32 farmers markets in 18 counties. 
• Leverage up to $1.2 million in federal funds. 
• Increase by 800% SNAP food sales at farmers markets. Strengthen New Mexico's farming economy. 

Thank you for your interest in these programs and for contacting Governor Martinez to request her support.  Your voices count!