2024 Farmer Innovation Program Micro-Grant Beneficiaries
Farm to Table’s (FTT) New Mexico Farmer Innovation Program (NMFIP) is pleased to announce that 14 projects in nine counties throughout New Mexico received funds in the 2024 grant cycle of the Urban Agriculture Initiative’s Micro-Grants.
These grants have been awarded to urban farmers, ranchers and food enterprises across New Mexico in support of projects which increase or improve healthy food access in urban areas, Tribal communities and small towns (see list of recipients). They are awarded in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Farm Service Agency (FSA) Urban Agriculture Initiative. Urban is defined as “populations over 5,000 people or 2,000 households” from the USDA Census Bureau.
The grant application process was competitive, with the goal of supporting producers to increase their capacity. All of the recipients operate with a gross cash income of $250,000 or less annually. The focus on supporting capacity building for small-scale producers in urban communities is an important investment in the state’s food ecosystem and will help deliver locally-grown and nutritious products directly to urban communities.
The 2024 round of Urban Agriculture Micro-Grants received a total of 65 applications from 18 counties, with a total of $1,165,743 in funding requested. In partnership with the USDA, the New Mexico Farmer Innovation Program is able to assist 15 farms with a total of $114,000 funds awarded throughout New Mexico.
See below for a list of the recipients and their projects.
Read the press release.
Grant Recipients
(in alphabetical order)
Alkaline Fields Farm LLC, Aztec
This project will allow Alkaline Fields Farm to expand their growing capabilities to serve a group of daycare centers’ need for nutritious local vegetables. It will enable them to build infrastructure to create hot beds which will allow them to extend the growing season and purchase materials to grow microgreens year-round in an existing solarium so that they can provide produce on a consistent basis for the daycare centers. Serving Farmington/Aztec.
Anthony Youth Farm, Anthony
This project will allow Anthony Youth Farm to weatherize their wash station, thereby keeping their operations running smoothly regardless of the weather conditions, and ensuring that they can continue to provide fresh produce to rural youth and families on a weekly basis. Serving the communities in and around Anthony.
Ashokra Farm, Albuquerque
This grant will assist Ashokra Farm in building their business so that they can eventually shift from an LLC to a worker-owned cooperative. Ashokra Farm will use the funding to continue the infrastructure buildout of their farm, which is based around leased land in multiple locations. The funds will be used to build caterpillar tunnels to extend the growing season, finish building out a wash station, ventilating their shipping container and securing a tool shed. Supporting farmers to farm on leased lands in the Albuquerque area.
Armijo Farm, Sabina
This project will allow Armijo Farm to expand their blackberry fruit trellis system so that they can expand their blackberry production and seek additional markets. Serving the communities of Abeytas, Sabinal, and Bosque, as well as distribution through La Montañita Food Coop.
Atalaya Elementary PTA, Santa Fe
Growing Futures: Atalaya Hydroponics Initiative will promote food security, foster community engagement, and enhance climate resilience. This project will primarily serve Atalaya students and families (potentially including other community partners, local food pantries), in addition to being a demonstration project for potential adoption across other schools.
Bidii Baby Foods LLC, Shiprock
The Farmers-in-REZidence” (FIR) is an incubator program for beginner, young (<35) Indigenous farmers. This grant will allow Bidii Baby Foods to purchase supplies and equipment to further expand FIR infrastructure and increase productive acreage, provide ongoing technical support and training to build capacity of FIR participants, and maintain Indigenous/regenerative farming practices to improve soil health. Serving the Navajo Nation, San Juan, McKinley, and Bernalillo Counties.
De Colores Farms & Foods, Anthony
The project revolves around the concept of returning to traditional foodways through small-scale regenerative food production in the Chihuahuan Desert. De Colores provides learning opportunities around sustainable production methods as well as assisting growers in marketing and food distribution. The grant will support the building of a shared meeting and produce processing space. Serving the the colonias of Doña Ana County, South of Las Cruces and well as distributing food throughout the state via local food hubs.
Desert Verde Farm LLC, Santa Fe
This project will allow Desert Verde Farm to complete an expansion of growing spaces at New Mexico’s only indoor aquaponics farm which will increase their food production by 20%. Serving public institutions receiving support from the NM Grown Program, including senior centers, public schools, food banks and early childhood care centers.
Gathings Gardens, Bloomfield
This project, titled “Farming in a Food Desert ” will support the expansion of Gathings Gardens greenhouse system with greenhouses (high tunnels), which would allow them to extend the growing season from 5 months to 11 months. This would result in increasing the amount of fresh, healthy food for their community, which struggles with access to fresh produce. Serving San Juan County and the Navajo Nation.
Ramel Family Farms LLC, Raton
This grant will allow Ramal Family Farms to purchase 44 additional hydroponic grow towers to supplement the 35 they already have, and the nearly 2,000 square feet of raised bed space, to expand their year-round greenhouse greens production to 100% capacity. There is a dramatic need for fresh greens in their area and they are the only producer within a 100-mile radius producing them. Serving Colfax, Harding, Mora, San Miguel, and Union Counties.
RJ’s Legacy FARM A: Shiprock
This project will increase and improve the production of produce and added value food products. RJ’s Legacy FARM A is increasing their production acres by 15 acres this year and there is a need to acquire approximately 1,500 feet of irrigation gated pipe, as well as to fence produce growing areas. In addition, they will be doing soil regeneration through cover crops and other means. Serving Shiprock, the Navajo Nation, Four Corners Region, and the state of New Mexico.
SquyreStudio MicroFarms, Alamogordo
This project will allow SquyreStudio MicroFarms to purchase a small greenhouse to aid in plant nursery production during the spring and fall season. The project will also support soil amendments, seed, and garden bed infrastructure to expand their growing space so that they can help to expand the amount of produce that is available to meet demand. Serving Alamogordo and selling produce at the Alamogordo Farmers Market.
Stong Farms, Las Cruces
This grant will enable Stong Farms to repair a well used to irrigate the greenhouse thereby extending the growing season and creating a more sustainable use of water. This will allow them to provide year-round produce to EBT/WIC customers. Serving Dona Aña County.
ZIALIFE, Ruidoso Downs
Zialife provides sustainably farmed local produce and microgreens to markets surrounding Ruidoso, NM utilizing water saving techniques. With this grant, they will be able to purchase water efficient grow systems, garden supplies and tools to dedicate solely to community harvests. They will also be able to set up consistently at local weekend farmers markets and events. Serving Ruidoso urban area and surrounding cities.