Santa Fe Standard

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMHealth) is calling upon all participants of the New Mexico Grown program to apply for the prestigious Golden Chile Awards. The program, which collaborates with local farmers, ranchers, and food businesses, aims to recognize and honor individuals and institutions for their contributions to promoting locally grown food.

Secretary Patrick Allen for NMHealth emphasized the significance of the New Mexico Grown program, stating, "New Mexico Grown is an important program that nourishes New Mexico school-age children, older adults, and families with fresh, locally produced food."

The Golden Chile Awards celebrate a range of activities, including establishing edible gardens, incorporating locally grown food into meals and snacks, providing gardening and nutrition education, offering culturally relevant lessons, and engaging communities in NM Grown programming. Last year, 67 participants were acknowledged for their efforts.

Applications for the 4th annual Golden Chile Awards are currently open until May 31. The awards recognize the efforts of local farmers, food hubs, food producers, schools, preschools, and senior centers that participate in the NM Grown program. Winners will be announced in August by the NM Grown Coalition, with an in-person ceremony scheduled for October 24.

To access the award applications and learn more about the NM Grown program, interested parties can visit newmexicogrown.org. For inquiries regarding the applications, individuals can contact Gabriel.Gaarden@doh.nm.gov.

For further information, David Barre can be reached at (505) 699-9237 (Office).

In an effort to enhance accessibility, a Spanish version of this press release is also available.

The New Mexico Department of Health's initiative highlights the importance of supporting local food systems and fostering a healthy community through programs like New Mexico Grown.