By MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican

Manny Encinias is hoping to help lawmakers “connect the dots.” 

The executive director of the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute and a rancher himself, Encinias said recent changes in agricultural policy — namely, the advent of the New Mexico Grown program — have been a “game-changer” for farmers and ranchers, and he wants to show off the positive change to New Mexico lawmakers while they’re in town for this year’s legislative session. 

The Farmers’ Market Institute, in partnership with the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association, The Food Depot, Farm to Table, and Reunity Resources, will host Feast New Mexico: Legislators’ Night on Wednesday, a first-of-its-kind showcase to celebrate five years of food system achievements. 

“Under one roof, we’re providing an opportunity for legislators … see how New Mexico farmers and ranchers, as a result of their appropriations, are able to partner with other organizations to basically put more food in front of New Mexicans on a regular basis,” Encinias said.

The New Mexico Grown program — which connects local producers to food banks, school nutrition experts and state agencies, like the Early Childhood Education and Care Department and New Mexico Department of Health — has been a “big success story” for small New Mexico farmers and ranchers, Encinias said.

New Mexico Grown promulgates a list of “approved suppliers” — including everything from an apricot vendor in Bernalillo County to a beef producer near Clovis — from which institutions can buy.

That means New Mexico produce and meats end up on lunch trays in school cafeterias or as a snack at early childhood education centers, served up at senior living facilities or available for distribution from a food bank. 

As a result, Encinias said, “It’s stimulating economy at the very rural level, by putting food in rural communities but also urban populations that are a little bit further away from the source of production. It’s truly amazing.” 

Feast New Mexico: Legislators’ Night will showcase these connections, highlighting local producers, farmers markets and food banks. 

The event will coincide with a series of agriculture-related events at the Roundhouse.

Rep. Joanne Ferrary, D-Las Cruces, has filed House Memorial 1 proclaiming Jan. 29 as this year’s “New Mexico Food and Farms Day” to celebrate “the efforts of individuals, youth, communities, organizations and agencies in creating a thriving local food, farming and ranching economy while emphasizing that everyone in New Mexico should have access to fresh, local, healthy and nutritious food.”

The Farmers’ Market Institute doesn’t have any specific requests for legislators during this session, Encinias said. Rather, he’s planning to show off recent changes in hopes of garnering recurring future support for the organizations that make New Mexico Grown happen. 

“It’s great for legislators to see how it’s all interconnected. It’s part of a system; it’s not just one organization working alone,” Encinias said. “It’s multiple organizations working together to build a robust and efficient and effective food system for all New Mexicans.”

If you go:

The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute will host Feast New Mexico: Legislators’ Night from 7-9 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 29 to showcase five years of food system achievements at Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Pavilion at 1607 Paseo de Peralta. 

More info: Visit feastnewmexico.com/legislators_night_2025.