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You just can't beat the taste of fresh New Mexico cherries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I eat locally grown foods?

1. Taste. Local foods taste better because they are picked at the peak of ripeness and sold to you generally within a day.  In comparison, non-local foods travel 1,500 miles on average, which means they often ripened in a box rather than on the vine. 
2. Connection.  Eating local connects you to the seasons, and it also connects you to the people who grow your food.
3. Safety. If you are concerned about food safety issues, buying local can help alleviate some of your fears, especially when you buy direct from the farmer.  Most farmers enjoy telling you about their farm and farming methods, and some even offer tours. 
4. Preservation.  Do you value our agricultural green spaces and traditions?  It may seem simple, but purchasing local food means more money goes directly to our farmers, ensuring the preservation of agricultural lands and traditions. 
5. Fun. Make it a family tradition to go to the farmers market each week, visit a u-pick apple orchard, or plant your own vegetable garden.  No matter how you approach eating locally, you are sure to have a good time.

Where can I find locally grown foods or value-added products? 
One of the best places to find local foods is at a farmers market, as you can meet the people who grow your food.  Joining a community supported agriculture (CSA) program is another great way to eat local, as you will receive a box of produce and other goods each week during the growing season. If you are looking for local foods in retail groceries or at restaurants, check out our Local Food Maps.  And don't forget- you can also find local food in your own yard or at a community garden.  Learn more about growing your own food here.

What crops are available seasonally in our region?
When you make the switch to eating local, you also switch to eating what is seasonally available.  For a listing of seasonal foods in our region, check out the Harvest Calendar from the New Mexico Farmers Marketing Association.

What is this vegetable, and how do I cook it?
When you start eating local foods, you may ask yourself this question from time to time.  Don't worry- some of these foreign local foods will soon be your new weekly favorites.  If you need a recipe, ask the farmer you bought the item from, or look around online or in a farmers market style cookbook.

Resources Listing

Local CSA's

(Below is a brief list - Please visit the New Mexico Farmers' Markets website for the most current information)

Amyo Farms: May through October - Bosque Farms

Beneficial Farms: Year Round - Santa Fe and Albuquerque

Cerro Vista Farm: May through November - Cerro
Contact: Daniel Carmona
(575) 586-0877

Desert Valley Farms: Mid-May - September - Los Ranchos
Contact: Counts Senovich
505-702-6310 or desertvalleyfarms@gmail.com
Desert Valley Farms 2011 CSA Contract

Dragon Farm: May through August - Albuquerque
Contact: Richard Brandt
rembrandtrocks@yahoo.com
(505) 363-3776

Dragonfly Farms: May through August - Albuquerque
Contact: Richard Brandt
rembrandtrocks@yahoo.com
(505) 363-3776

East Mountain Organic Farms: July through October - Albuquerque
Contact: Steve Apodaca
(505) 281-5083

Erda Gardens: May through October - Albuquerque
info@erdagardens.org
(505) 610-1538

Flying H Ranch: Heritage Pork CSA - Rowe
Contact: Kimberly Hamerdinger
newmexicoheritagehogs@gmail.com

Harmony Farm: June through November - Abiquiu
Contact: Richard Belanger
richar@cybermesa.com

High Desert Harvest: May through October/November - Albuquerque/Los Ranchos
orhighdesertharvest@gmail.com
(505) 712-6948 

Hondo Seco Farms: May through October - Arroyo Seco
Contact: Moira O'Hanion
(575) 776-8636

Los Poblanos Organics: Year Round - Santa Fe & Albuquerque
Contact: Monte Skarsgard
(505) 681-4060

McWilliams Farms: June through October - Alamogordo
mcwilliamsfarms@yahoo.com
(575) 434-3007

Morningstar Farms: Year Round - Artisanal Vegetables - Taos/Arroyo Seco
Contact: Melinda Bateman
(575) 776-1757

Old Windmill Dairy: Year Round - Moriarty
nmgoatdairy@higherspeed.net
(505) 384-0033

Pollo Real: Year Round - Poultry & Eggs - Soccoro
Contact: Tom and Tracey Delahantey
(505) 838-0345

Red Tractor Farm: June through November - Albuquerque
redtractorfarm@yahoo.com

Rio Arriba Farms - May through September - Abiquiu
Contact: Carol Bondy
info@rioarribafarms.com
(505) 216-5151

Ross' Gardens CSA - Year-round - Estancia
Contact: Kay and Ross
rbird4673@q.com

Santa Cruz Farm: Year Round - Espanola
www.santacruzfarm@windstream.net
(505) 514-1662

Squash Blossom Farm: June through October - Ranchos de Taos
Contact: Gail Minton
(575) 751-4681

Zia Manana Harvest: May through November - Los Ranchos Farmers Market pickup
Contact: Christina Profazi
cprofazi@gmail.com
(505) 620-1516

Local Growers & Producers

Other Local Resources

New Mexico Farmers Marketing Association
Find a listing of farmers markets in New Mexico, as well as tips for getting the most out of your market visit.

Local Food Maps
These online maps by the MRCOG Agriculture Collaborative will help you eat, buy, and grow local foods.

New Mexico Culinary Treasures Trail
Use their Interactive Map to find New Mexico’s most venerable dining establishments, what they call New Mexico's "Culinary Treasures."

New Mexico's Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail
Check out their interactive map.

New Mexico's Recreational Cooking Schools

Slow Food
An international organization promoting "slow" artisanal and regional foods, not "fast" industrial foods.  Be sure to check out our regional Slow Food chapter for central New Mexico.

National Resources

Local Harvest
Find local food and farms in New Mexico, or browse what is available across the nation.

Food Routes
Learn about their Buy Fresh Buy Local program.

American Farmland Trust
Learn about their No Farms No Food program.

The 100 Mile Diet
Learn about the benefits of eating closer to home.

USDA Community Supported Agriculture Webpage
Information and resources regarding CSA's across the US.