U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
STATE News:
NAMBÉ — U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), the U.S. House Assistant Speaker, hosted a roundtable Tuesday with Farm to Table New Mexico and Sandoval County farmers to discuss their efforts to provide healthy, sustainable foods to New Mexicans and how New Mexico is utilizing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs to support local food systems.
Luján worked to strengthen these programs in the 2018 Farm Bill.
“New Mexico’s farmers do essential work, and we depend on them to ensure our state’s food security. That’s why one of my top priorities is making sure farmers have the support they need to stay afloat during this pandemic,” Luján said. “I’ll be taking their experiences and concerns back to Congress as I fight for additional relief for struggling New Mexico families and businesses, and as I work to ensure USDA programs work for New Mexico.”
Participants in Tuesday’s meeting included Executive Director and co-founder of Farm to Table New Mexico Pam Roy, Wagner Farms co-owner Anthony Wagner, Silver Leaf Farms co-owner Elan Silverblatt, Corrales Growers’ Market President Bonnie Gonzales, Value Chain Coordinator Michael Venticinque for the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association and Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network Director Helga Garza.
