Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 25, 2025
CONTACT
Julia Sclafani
Public Relations Specialist
Email: ECECD-PIO@ececd.nm.gov
Mobile: (505) 699–5937
1120 Paseo De Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Note: This is a republication of a Department of Health press release featuring additional information.
SANTA FE – The National Farm to School Network will bring its annual National Farm to Cafeteria Conference to Albuquerque this year, spotlighting New Mexico’s leadership in providing children with local, healthy food in schools and early childhood settings.
The event will gather hundreds of advocates, educators, farmers and community leaders from across the country to promote local, nutritious food choices in schools and child care centers. The conference will be held Dec. 1 through Dec. 4 at the Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 2nd Street NW.
The theme of the conference is “Rooted in Culture, Growing for the Future.” Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) staff will lead site visits highlighting how early childhood programs are adopting farm-to-school practices — from scratch-cooked meals to on-site gardens that introduce young children to fresh, nutritious ingredients.
“ECECD is proud to work alongside New Mexico growers to bring fresh, locally sourced foods into early childhood programs statewide. Introducing young children to nourishing ingredients early in life strengthens both their long-term health and our local food economy, while celebrating the cultures and traditions at the heart of our communities,” said ECECD Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky. “We look forward to welcoming national leaders to New Mexico and showcasing how we are building a food system that nourishes every child from the very beginning.”
“It’s an honor to have the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference held in New Mexico,” said Health Secretary Gina DeBlassie. “The conference highlights Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s food initiatives for New Mexico and includes programs on building a farm-to-school garden system and teaching farmers how to help support that system, which will benefit farmers and schools in the state and country.”
“We chose New Mexico as our host site because it stands as a national model for turning grassroots, community-led food justice efforts into real policy,” said Passion Rutledge, finance and operations director for the National Farm to School Network. “From Healthy Universal School Meals program to statewide local purchasing initiatives and deep partnerships with Tribal communities, the country has a lot to learn from the people of New Mexico.”
In 2022, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham launched the Food Initiative, a nation-leading whole-of-government commitment to supporting food security and economic resiliency for farmers and ranchers.
The conference features over 40 workshops, farm and school field trips, hands-on classes, and the presentation of the Golden Chile Awards, which celebrate excellence in farm-to-cafeteria work.
For more information about the event, including how to register, visit 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference.
See the Department of Health release published on Nov. 18 here.
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Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham launched the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) in 2020, making New Mexico among the first states to consolidate all early childhood programs and services under a single cabinet-level agency. Under this administration, ECECD has led the nation by expanding access to free New Mexico PreK, overseeing the largest investment in early childhood infrastructure in state history, and implementing cost-free child care for a majority of New Mexico families. Learn more about how ECECD supports children, families, and the early childhood professionals that serve our communities at nmececd.org. On Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as @NewMexicoECECD.