Nominations Are Open for the
2027 Food & Farms Day Awards!
We are so excited to open the nominations for the annual Food & Farms Day Awards. This annual awards event recognizes individuals and organizations working to strengthen our local and sustainable food systems in New Mexico.
There are five categories of nominations. Through this nomination process you can highlight the efforts of hard working farmers and ranchers, nonprofit organizations, health and conservation coalitions, and any business or individual contributing to the enrichment of our local food system.
Nominate Your Favorite Food Champions!
Please share your stories about the people you know who are making a difference in food and farming in New Mexico!
You can submit as many nominations as you like and you can even nominate yourself!
Nominations are open until 11:59pm, August 30, 2026.
Nominations are evaluated based on specific criteria which use a lens of justice and equity, commitment to land and culture, use of innovative and creative approaches to complex problems, and clear investment in New Mexico’s farmers, students, families, and local food allies of the future. To see a video about previous awardees, click here.
Awardees will be announced in September 2026 after review by a committee made up of members of the NM Food & Agriculture Policy Council who represent a diverse range of NM food producers and advocates.
Awardees will be honored on Food & Farms Day at the Legislature, at the state capitol in January/February 2027 (date, time TBA).
To see a list of previous years’ awardees, click here. Thank you for participating in this year’s nominations!
AWARD CATEGORIES
Good Food for New Mexico Award – Celebrating NM Farmers’ Markets
Sowing Change Award for Organizations Engaged in Creating Sustainable Food Systems
Heart of the Land Award for Outstanding Leadership in Farming and/or Ranching
Growing the Future Award for New or Young Farmers and Ranchers
Living Land Award for Outstanding Leadership in Land Stewardship
GENERAL CRITERIA
Nominees should minimally meet the below criteria, in addition to the category specific criteria:
- demonstrate a commitment to land and culture
- demonstrate a commitment to the environment and sustainable growing practices
- foster innovative and creative approaches to complex problems
- show investment in creating/growing healthy food
- contribute to creating a just food system and supporting equitable food access
- contribute to growing a healthy economy and building a sustainable future for New Mexico
- participate in the NM Grown Program, where applicable
Good Food for New Mexico Award - Celebrating NM Farmers' Markets
GOOD FOOD FOR NEW MEXICO CRITERIA and ELIGIBILITY
Farmers’ Markets are eligible.
- Show a commitment to community and local culture.
- Show a commitment to creating a great shopping environment to buy local food.
- Create a sense of community through the shopping experience.
- Show a commitment to providing equitable food access (through the acceptance of Fresh Rx, Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program checks, WIC, SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, etc)
Sowing Change Award for Organizations Engaged in Creating Sustainable Food Systems
SOWING CHANGE CRITERIA and ELIGIBILITY
Organizations and coalitions are eligible.
- Provide outstanding leadership in cultivating a healthy and local food system.
- Promote equitable and just access to healthy food in New Mexico.
- Promote education and advocacy around food systems.
- Demonstrate a commitment to sustainability.
- Connect to a wider network of organizations/individuals helping to build a sustainable food movement.
Heart of the Land Award for Outstanding Leadership in Farming and Ranching
HEART OF THE LAND CRITERIA and ELIGIBILITY
Farms/farmers, ranches/ranchers are eligible.
- Show a commitment to growing and/or raising quality food through sustainable farming/ranching practices.
- Show a commitment to the community and work to sell locally.
- Practice/preserve the traditional agricultural ways of farming (where applicable).
- Create connections between their work and the wider movement for food access, healthy eating, and education/advocacy.
- Mentoring or otherwise sharing their knowledge with younger generations of farmers. (Not required)
Growing the Future Award - For New or Young Farmers and Ranchers
GROWING THE FUTURE CRITERIA and ELIGIBILITY
Farms/farmers and ranches/ranchers categorized who have been in business less than 10 years OR who are under the age of 40, are eligible.
- New or young farmers are generally categorized as new to farming <10 years OR under age 40.
- Show a commitment to growing and/or raising quality food through sustainable farming/ranching practices.
- Show a commitment to the community and work to sell locally.
- Practice/preserve the traditional agricultural ways of farming (where applicable).
- Create connections between their work and the wider movement for food access, healthy eating, and education/advocacy.
- Demonstrate a commitment to justice and equity in farming and/or ranching.
Living Land Award for Outstanding Leadership in Land Stewardship
LIVING LAND CRITERIA and ELIGIBILITY
Individuals and private landowners, farms/ranches, organizations and coalitions are eligible.
- Exemplifies leadership and vision in creating and implementing practices and programs that promote a sustainable natural environment, benefiting the landscape and natural resources while producing food.
- Promotes principles that support soil, water, air and natural resources health through biodiversity, sustainable and regenerative practices, preserving open space, establishing or maintaining riparian areas and improving wildlife habitat.
- Practice innovative, effective, holistic land management techniques that help build soil, eliminate erosion, utilize water-wise practices, or implement other regenerative practices to preserve the natural environment while adapting to changes.
- Practice/preserve the traditional agricultural ways of farming (where applicable).
- Share their conservation ethic and techniques with others inside and outside of agriculture, through community service, leadership roles and media outreach.
About the Food & Farms Day Awards
New Mexico Food & Farms Day celebrates the efforts of individuals, communities, organizations, and agencies who strive to create a thriving local food, farming and ranching economy, while at the same time emphasizing that everyone in the state should have access to fresh, healthy, nutritional food.
This event provides an opportunity to highlight the intersection between health, sustainable food systems, and the economic wellbeing of our farms and ranches. It also speaks to the ways we are working together to increase affordable and healthy food access. It addresses the idea that thriving food systems encourage entrepreneurship and leadership, and reinforces the benefits of cooperation and coordination along with the intersection of informed policy making.
“The Food & Farms Day Awards are a chance to lift up farmers, ranchers, food producers and organizations who increase access to affordable, healthy food grown in New Mexico.”
– Pam Roy, Founder and Policy Director of Farm to Table and Coordinator of the NM Food & Agriculture Policy CouncilThe New Mexico Food & Farms Day Awards are produced by Farm to Table NM and the NM Food & Agriculture Policy Council, with support from friends and collaborators, and our funders and sponsors.