Improving Agricultural Communities

Ag Ventures Improve Quality of Life

At the Taos County, N.M., Economic Development Center’s new commercial kitchen, local residents receive guidance in launching new businesses and adding value to farm products. Photo by Jeff Caven

A partnership of northern New Mexico producers, community development leaders and agricultural professionals is creating a promising mix of small-scale farming and value-added enterprises to reconnect the community to agriculture. They are leveraging SARE funds with other public and private resources to make a significant change in the quality of rural life for Hispanics, Native Pueblo Indians and other families on limited incomes. Leading the effort is New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension, the state Department of Agriculture and community activists from the Taos County Economic Development Center. A generation after people stopped farming, a new cooperative is producing organic wheat, a thriving community garden yields fresh produce and small farmers have learned to add value to their products through on-site processing and savvy marketing. Business "incubators" such as a new commercial kitchen along with entrepreneurial assistance will help people trying to add value. "We’re after a strong sustainable community that’s not dependent on tourism or other up-and-down economies," says wheat grower Juan Montes. In Costilla, N.M., residents growing organic wheat for the first time expect to bring at least $100,000 in annual agricultural receipts to the economically challenged area.(SW96-027)

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