Breaking: City Council Meets to Discuss Urban Agriculture Plan for Las Cruces, NM

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In Las Cruces, NM city council members will meet today, May 23, 2016, to discuss plans for expanding the local agriculture and food environment, through a comprehensive Urban Agriculture and Food Policy plan, developed by local non-profit La Semilla Food Center.

Exactly what is urban agriculture (UA)?

The idea is to inform leaders about the many forms, benefits and opportunities that UA has to offer the local community. UA is the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in and around towns and cities. Through UA communities are no longer held to the idea that local growing is just for farmers or rural communities, but in reality schools, churches, local businesses, housing authorities, residents and virtually anyone with a desire to grow and produce their own food can take part in such activities. Regardless of space limitations or where one lives, communities can grow their own food!

How does urban agriculture benefit the community?

In Doña Ana County, where Las Cruces is located, the food insecurity rate is approximately 16.8%, or rather 31,770 residents live in households where residents lack “consistent access to adequate food.” According to the U.S.-Mexico Border Diabetes Prevention and Control Project, 72% of adults in the Paso del Norte region are obese or overweight, 16% have diabetes; and 14% have pre-diabetes. Childhood obesity rates are also a concern, with the New Mexico Department of Health reporting that 13.2% of kindergarten and 22.6% of third grade students are obese in New Mexico.

When communities implement a plan to strengthen local food environments the benefits are numerous! UA can revitalize the community, prevent childhood obesity and chronic disease, and ultimately improve the quality of life for local residents. Examples of how UA operates include: urban farms, community gardens, food trucks selling local produce (mobile markets), school gardens, community kitchens, farmers’ markets and more!

What does the plan say about improving Las Cruces’ local food environment?

At today’s meeting, leaders will have the opportunity to review the plan which highlights strategic ways for enacting and implementing local policies to support healthy, local, and sustainably produced food.

The plan is years in the making, with leaders having first convened in 2012 to form the Mesilla Valley Food Policy Council (MVFPC), whose goal is to raise awareness of local food systems and benefits to the community. Already, the city operates 4 community gardens as well as numerous gardens at pre-schools, elementary schools, high schools, and churches.

Through careful planning, an analysis of the local food policy environment, mapping of community resources and detailed outlining of metrics to measure progress, the Las Cruces Urban Agriculture and Food Policy plan seeks to pave the way for a healthy and vibrant future in Las Cruces, NM. According to implementation section, goals will be prioritized based on recommendations from the MVFPC, city staff, and the additional stakeholders.

See a draft of the Urban Agriculture and Food Policy Plan here and find out more about how to connect with the La Semilla Food Center!

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