Several Sandoval County organizations were honored Oct. 24 at the Golden Chile Awards at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque and one local farm received the Heart of the Land Award for outstanding leadership in farming and ranching.
The Grown Golden Chile Awards, managed by the New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Grown Coalition, honor innovative programs in preschools, K-12 schools and senior centers, along with outstanding contributions to local food systems. The Heart of the Land Award is one of five awards given out by Farm to Table New Mexico and the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council.
“Congratulations to all the awardees for investing in the health of our children and families, and the economic vitality of our farmers and ranchers,” said Kendal Chavez, food and hunger advisor in the Office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. “Your support of local, nutritious food for preschoolers, students and seniors is building a healthier New Mexico.”
The event coincided with Food and Farms Day, which celebrates statewide initiatives that enhance access to nutritious food and strengthen New Mexico’s local food, farming and ranching economy.
Golden Chile Award winners are grouped into four tiers — Golden Chile for a “mature and fruitful program,” Blossom, for programs reaching maturity, Sprout for programs that are growing strong and Seed for programs that have potential.
The Sandoval County Senior Program was the sole organization from the county to receive the Golden Chile.
“We are honored to be awarded the Golden Chile Award this year and work hard throughout the year to assure our seniors receive the best possible food and nutrition,” said Jayme Espinoza, Sandoval County community services director. “Partnering with NM Grown has been such a benefit to our Senior Program, as these products all come from New Mexico Farmers and Ranchers. We contract with Farmers like C4 Farms up north in Tierra Amarilla for amazing beef products, to the southern regions of New Mexico in Doña Ana County for fruits and vegetables with farmers.”
Two programs from Sandoval County, Cuba Independent Schools and Nacimiento Natural Products, received the Blossom Award. Both were recognized for sustainably raised beef and wool. The Sprout Award went to Enchanted Living of New Mexico, a senior assisted living facility in Enchanted Hills, and Bernalillo Public Schools.
“I think one thing it does is it really demonstrates the connectedness that we have to our 15 communities within our school district,” said Matt Montaño, superintendent of Bernalillo Public Schools. “ I really think it’s a testament to the leadership of Debbie Trujillo, who is our food services director. She’s always looking for innovative ways to serve our community, serve our students, get food to our students, whether school’s in session or whether we’re on a break because we actually provide food to students during the summer of winter breaks and this is just an example of this recognition and the award is just an example of how we try to serve all the needs of our communities.”
The Heart of the Land Award for outstanding leadership in farming and ranching was awarded to Black Mesa Farm on the San Felipe Pueblo, owned and operated by Bryce Townsend. The farm supplies produce for the New Mexico FreshRx Program, run by the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association, which encourages patients to enhance their medical care by incorporating locally grown, nutritious produce.