Our Mission: Supporting Local Foods and Farms
The Mid-Region Council of Governments is committed to improving the sustainability and profitability of small and medium-scale agriculture in New Mexico’s mid-region. This includes local produce, meat, dairy, and value-added products. By supporting local foods, we are supporting the farmers, the land, the sourcing of local products by food service companies, and most important, the consumption of local foods.
Our Goals
- Maintain a regional forum for discussing and resolving local food and agricultural issues
- Focus on developing new or more accessible markets for local agricultural products
- Promote and support local growers’ markets
- Promote and support a consistent supply of local agricultural products
- Preserve and protect agricultural lands in the region
- Seek and obtain funding to achieve the long range goals of the Agriculture Collaborative
 Read more about the Agriculture Collaborative's mission, goals and strategies.
Projects and Programs
The Albuquerque Grower’s Market Alliance (AGMA), MRCOG Agriculture Collaborative, and Bernalillo County Cooperative Extension are collaborating to bring you a series of workshops and events covering a variety of food and agriculture topics including business development, access to land, funding opportunities and more. We will also be hosting mixers aimed at connecting people around specific topics
The annual Local Food Festival and Field Day is a celebration of food from the ground up! It is an annual event highlighting local food and agriculture in our region. The festival is organized by the MRCOG Agriculture Collaborative in partnership with a variety of local groups and organizations. The 2012 Festival date hasn't been selected yet, but stay tuned for information as it becomes available!
The MRCOG Agriculture Collaborative is proud to announce the launch of the Central New Mexico LandLink Initiative, an effort to connect entrepreneurial farmers and ranchers looking for land and farming opportunity- to agricultural landowners, and farm and ranch internship and mentorship possibilities. The LandLink supports these connections with the appropriate local resources needed for success.
The Agriculture Collaborative meetings, hosted by the MRCOG, are an opportunity for anyone interested in local food or agriculture to learn something new, share ideas and network. We host free monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at 9am. WANT TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION??? If you would like email notification of future meetings, please sign up for our monthly meeting reminder and e-newsletter.
The Local Food Blog allows you to stay informed about all facets of local agriculture and food news through articles on a variety of exciting topics. From home-based food preservation to national policy issues, we cover a broad range of food and agriculture topics. You can subscribe to the RSS feed of Local Food Blog  or receive the Local Food Blog by Email.
Local Food Connections is our monthly e-newsletter with the freshest updates on local and regional foods and agriculture news, important national news, events and more. WANT TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION??? If you would like get Local Food Connetions devlivered to your inbox each month, please sign up for our e-newsletter and monthly meeting reminder.
The Local Foods Maps help you find local foods at markets, retailers, and restaurants; events and activities in our region such as festivals and u-pick farms; and resources for growing your own food at home or in the community. View the three maps: Eat and Buy Local Foods, Agri-tourism and Events, and Grow It Yourself.
Check out our Local Food Events Calendar for a wide array of entertaining and educational events in the central New Mexico region. We post just about any event featuring local food, agriculture or culturally relevant activities such as food festivals, cooking classes, harvest events, workshops, trainings, wine tastings, and much more.
Additional Resources
Find anwsers to frequesntly asked questions and numerous resource listings appealing to: Farmers & Ranchers, Gardeners, Food Consumers, Food Processors, Chefs & Food Service, and Educators. If you would like to be listed as a resource, please email us at localfoodnm@mrcog-nm.gov.
A variety of wonderful locally grown items can be purchased at area farmers' and growers' markets. Our list reflects Albuquerque area and regional Tribal markets. For a comprehensive and up-to-date list of markets around the state, please visit the New Mexico Farmers' Markets website.
Whether you are a new or experienced local food consumer or producer, our Local Food Glossary will help you stay up to date with your local food lingo.
 Social Media for Local Food
Local Food in New Mexico on Facebook fan page
Local Food New Mexico on Duke City Fix
Local Food Twitter feed
Local Food Blog RSS
Subscribe to Local Food Blog by Email
Why We Do This Work
 Going Local
The primary agricultural products produced in the region are cattle, forage, and dairy. However, with the rise of consumer interest in local foods, a spotlight has been given to producers of local fruits, vegetables, and meats. Unfortunately, demand exceeds the available supply. Some of the challenges to growing local produce are: diminishing farm lands, an uncertain future water supply, fewer full-time farmers, and soaring land values.
However, by nurturing the demand; supporting farmers' and growers' markets; finding larger markets for local products, such as schools, restaurants, and as ingredients in local foods; we open new doors, support new sustainable businesses, and keep our agricultural tradition intact.
 Region and History
New Mexico's agricultural traditions, which date back over 3,000 years, are still prevalent today in both urban and rural communities. Like many arid landscapes, the availability of water has played a major role in the development of human settlements and agriculture throughout New Mexico. This can be seen in the traditional acequia irrigation systems found in most communities across the state, many of which are still in use today.
New Mexico’s mid-region, made up of Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, and Valencia Counties, is the most populous and developed area in the state and is home to a variety of urban centers including Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. While the mid-region becomes increasingly urbanized, many continue to value the traditional agricultural economy and landscapes, made up of small and medium-sized farms.
The MRCOG Agriculture Collaborative Policy Platforms:
Policy: Support Agricultural Land Preservation and LandLink
Background: The preservation and protection of agricultural lands for the region’s farming and ranching operations is a goal of the MRCOG Agriculture Collaborative, particularly for growing and processing products for local and regional consumption. The regional water plans also support the preservation of agricultural lands. However, technical and financial funding assistance is necessary to carry out significant agriculture land preservation strategies. Such strategies may include facilitating land linking activities, purchase or transfer of development rights, dedicating conservation easements, establishing land trusts, or special land use controls to enhance the value of agricultural lands in the region. Water conservation and efficiency of use should be a condition of any agricultural land preservation program.
Policy: Support programs to increase the supply of local agricultural products
Background: Both technical and financial skill building could open the possibilities for year-round agriculture production and increased value-added products developed by local food processors. Technical assistance to local food producers, business planning and other specialized training could result in season extension techniques, increased local food businesses and overall increases in the supply of local agriculture.
Policy: Support the development of farm-to-market connections for the distribution of locally-grown agricultural products
Background: The MRCOG’s Agriculture Collaborative is promoting the growth and expansion of local markets for local food and agricultural value-added products. Assistance and support to farmers markets throughout the region can improve the viability of local food and agricultural products. Other, more conventional markets such as restaurants and grocery stores present greater sales opportunities for local products. The Agriculture Collaborative seeks to introduce food producers to buyers to assure that local food is well represented in the marketplace.
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Contact Info
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Agriculture
Local Food Festival and Field Day
Central New Mexico LandLink Initiative
Monthly Agriculture Collaborative Meetings
Local Food Blog
Local Food Connections E-Newsletter
Local Food Maps
Local Food and Agriculture Events Calendar
Resources and Frequently Asked Questions
Farmers' and Growers' Markets
Local Food Glossary
Mid Region Council of Governments