s r new mexico grown fresh fruits and vegetables...

NM Grown Strategic Planning Session, March 10, 2016

SUMMARY REPORT

NEW MEXICO GROWN FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR

SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM (NM GROWN) STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT

INTRODUCTION Overview - For more than a decade there has been a concerted effort by organizations

and agencies to develop the statewide New Mexico Grown Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

for School Meals initiative. The program was developed to create opportunities for

farmers to diversify their markets into schools and enhance New Mexico’s farming

economy; for schools to be able to buy locally while meeting federal school meal rules;

and to enhance the diets of school children while promoting healthy lifestyles and

academic achievement.

In 2007, the New Mexico Legislature appropriated initial funding for the New Mexico

Grown Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for School Meals Program (New Mexico Grown or

NMG). Since then, these funds and interest in the program have increased. Farm to Table

in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, New Mexico

Cooperative Extension Service, New Mexico School Nutrition Association, New Mexico

Food and Agriculture Policy Council and others have worked through many of the

operational challenges inherent in starting a complex initiative involving many partners.

Nonetheless, challenges remain; some of the most perplexing relate to procurement of

New Mexico Grown foods and their distribution to schools.

To assess and strengthen the efficacy of the endeavor and transform New Mexico Grown

from a startup operation into a more mature program, Farm to Table has called the

program partners together for a planning workshop to be held in March. The key question

for the workshop is, “How should we organize ourselves and coordinate our respective

resources to increase the number of school meals that include New Mexico Grown foods

while meeting the needs of farmers?” In addition, there are many “farm to school” type

education programs now that have the potential to further link New Mexico’s food

production to lessons learned in the classroom, school garden and on the farm.

Farm to Table is seeking planning and facilitation services to design, facilitate and

document the strategic planning workshop. This proposal outlines the scope and

recommended approach to the work, identifies the project deliverables, timeframe, and

cost, and provides background on the consultant team.

THEMES FROM PARTICIPANT INTERVIEWS Before the retreat, the facilitator interviewed select participants about their perceptions

and insights into NMG’s mission, strengths, and challenges. Eight open-ended questions

guided the conversations. The individuals participating in the interviews included a

farmer, a county extension agent, a foundation representative, a representative from the

NM Dept. of Agriculture, a member of the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy

Council, three school food and nutrition directors, a professional in youth food and

nutrition education, and a retail grocer. At the beginning of the retreat, the facilitator

summarized the themes from the interviews (Attachment A, pages 6-7).


THREE-YEAR VISION Three rounds of small-group discussion led to the development of a long-range vision for

New Mexico Grown. In the first round, the participants discussed the system that should

provide fresh fruits and vegetables to the schools three years; in the second round, they

reflected on their aspirations for NMG. In the third round, they identified recurring

themes from the first two rounds and then addressed the question: What would we like to

see in place in New Mexico Grown in 2019? From these discussions and ideas written

on cards, the participants framed a three-year vision.

The vision has five major components: a) Results-Based Accountability, b) Values-

Driven Public Policy, c) Integrated Community Wellness, d) Coordinated Infrastructure,

and e) Asset-Based Development. The overall goal for the vision is a Fully Integrated

Year-Round New Mexico Grown Program. The chart on the next page shows the vision.


NEW MEXICO GROWN • THREE-YEAR VISION

“What Would We Like to See in Place in New Mexico Grown by 2019?”

GOAL: FULLY INTEGRATED YEAR-ROUND NEW MEXICO GROWN

RESULTS-

BASED

ACCOUNT-

ABILITY

ASSET-BASED ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT (AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE

COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT)

COORDINATED

INFRASTRUCTURE

INTEGRATED

COMMUNITY WELLNESS

VALUES-DRIVEN

PUBLIC POLICY

(VALUES-DRIVEN REFERS SPECIFICALLY

TO THE NM GROWN MISSION/VISION)

RBA

Across each

Systems

Sustainability

Fair Trade Capacity &

Coordination

Seamless Real-

Time System

Family, School

& Community

Engagement

Seamless

Real-Time

System

Local

Autonomy

State and

Federally

Supported

Setting

benchmarks

(objective

goals)

Setting

values-based

standards

Guaranteed

state-supported

forward

contracting*

Funding timing

reimbursement

Production

planning

partnerships

with established

benchmarks

Farm planning

crop intentions

More farmers

= more

production

Diversification

of food/

farmers

Consistent and

fair pricing and

market

Good food

valued and

farmers fairly

compensated

Central

aggregation and

distribution

throughout the

state

Aggregation hubs

Storage capacity

across NM

Data service for

procurement

Operations

management – 3rd

parties store,

distribute, procure

food

Surplus

converted to

usable product

Digital

information that

displays virtual

food hub

Models

(knowledge

sharing)

Continuity

along entire

food chain

without gaps

Education

(leaders,

children, staff,

farmers)

Parents &

children are main

advocates for

NMG

Marketing/

promotion

Cafeteria and

garden

classrooms

Resources for

family lifestyle

shift

Family &

community

engagement

Relationship

building –

farmers visit

cafeteria; food

directors visit

farms

Districts

support and

schools’ focus

on from

scratch

cooking

Creative &

flexible

cafeterias

Food

sovereignty

Localized

systems

Increasing

ancestral foods

Food system

legislation

Supportive

statutes and

regulation

Institutional

integration of

NMG

* Forward contracting refers to a contract set ahead of production; it is a cash market transaction in which a seller agrees to deliver a specific cash commodity to a buyer at some point in the

future.


18- MONTH STRATEGIES AND GOALS The participants decided to develop strategies and goals for four of the five major

components of the vision; they determined that the fifth component – results-based

accountability — is a crosscutting activity that would be built into each of the other four

strategies. When they reviewed their work at the end of the retreat, they confirmed that

Results-Based Accountability had been woven into the strategies and action steps.

To develop 18-month strategies, the participants formed four small groups and followed a

process that involved:

Stating the overall intent or aspiration for the topic,

Defining specific, measurable objectives for the next 18 months, and

Identifying 6-month, 12-month, and 18-month goals.

The chart on page 4 summarizes the strategies and the goals the participants intend to

achieve by 2018.

ACTION PLANS AND IMPLEMENTATION In addition, three of the small groups created short-term action plans to begin to

implement the strategies. The chart on page 5 shows the action plans they produced, and

Attachment B on pages 8 to 15 provides the worksheets that documented the work by the

small groups.

The participants formed a Steering Committee to oversee and coordinate efforts to

implement the strategic plan. The Steering Committee will be responsible for:

Tracking progress,

Helping to solve problems and serving as a sounding board for the working

groups, and

Documenting results.

The composition of the Steering Committee includes one or two members from each

Working group. The left column of the chart on page 4 shows the names of the Steering

Committee members, and the second page of the worksheets in Attachment B shows the

membership of the small groups.

NEXT STEPS At the end of the retreat, the participants highlighted the next steps for New Mexico

Grown Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for School Meals:

1. Confirm the verbal commitments made during the retreat;

2. Draw on existing data and date systems (hubs) to support the work to carry out

the plan; and

3. Seek grant funds to support a part-time coordinator on the Farm to Table staff.


18-MONTH STRATEGIES AND GOALS

OVERALL GOAL: FULLY INTEGRATED YEAR-ROUND NEW MEXICO GROWN

STRATEGIC INTENT AND OBJECTIVE GOALS

VISION

COMPONENT

OVERALL INTENT/

ASPIRATION

STRATEGIC

OBJECTIVE

3-MONTH GOALS

(NOW-7/31/16)

12-MONTH GOALS

(BY 3/31/17)

18-MONTH GOALS

(BY 9/30/17)

Values-Driven

Public Policy

Steering Committee

(SC) members:

Morgan, Pam, Nelsy

A public policy based

on a flexible,

transparent structure of

values defined by the

community (especially

those most affected)

Clear, comprehensive

legislative agenda

Prepare a draft agenda

(local, state, federal)

and have it ready to

share

Engage and integrate

local voices/knowledge

into agenda (educate

policy makers)

Advance advocacy

(guided by agenda)

Integrated

Community

Wellness

SC Members:

Kendal, Rob, Nelsy

A healthy, plant-based,

local food culture in

families and schools

Pilot of a “how-to”

toolkit (school food

culture)

Link current partners

and identify new

partners (use SHARE-

NM)

Create an asset map,

clarify roles, and have

resources under one

roof

Test and pilot toolkit,

and market it taking

a “guerilla

marketing” approach

Coordinated

Infrastructure

SC Members:

John G, a Food

Service Director &

a farmer

Production, storage and

delivery of safe foods

in sufficient quantity to

schools by coordinating

farmers, producers, and

processors

Coordination of local

food producers to

deliver the quantity of

safe/healthy foods

needed by schools

Identify school needs;

Identify existing

infrastructure;

Identify missing links

Have refrigerated

trucks and aggregation

system that serve all

parts of the state

Make dark kitchens

alive

Asset-Based

Economic

Development

SC Members:

Duncan, Charlene

An economy that is

viable and resilient

(accomplished by

overcoming identified

barriers)

Economic

sustainability through

education, planning

and production

Outreach and

education

Forward contracting

Develop asset

inventory


ACTION PLANS FOR THREE SMALL GROUPS

VISION COMPONENT

ACTION STEPS FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS

GOALS

Integrated

Community Wellness

Create Google document with partner information

Share current initiatives with partners

Hold in-person meeting

Share NM (or similar) page live

Link current partners and identify new

partners (3-month goal)

Create an asset map, clarify roles, and have

resources under one roof (12-month goal)

Coordinated

Infrastructure

Strengthen customer communication (school/farmer)

Collect/verify real-time farm data

Identify cold storage capacity and facilities

Identify processing facilities

Identify delivery modes

Identify demand, supply and facilities needed to support food chain –

hoop houses, equipment and farmers with good production capacity

Identify school needs; existing infrastructure;

and missing links (3-month goal)

Refrigerated trucks to rural or needs

community for aggregation (12-month goal)

Asset-Based

Economic

Development

Forward contracting: a) do farm planning, b) develop school district

menu

Outreach and education: a) organize and conduct farm tours/cafeteria

tours; b) increase access to funding opportunities from USDA and

elsewhere

Provide outreach and education (3-month

goal)

Implement forward contracting (12-month

goal)


ATTACHMENT A: INTERVIEW SUMMARY

1. How would you describe the mission/purpose of New Mexico Grown Fresh Fruits

and Vegetables for School Meals (NM Grown) to someone who is unfamiliar with it?

Provides fresh fruits and vegetables in NM to schools

Obtains funding to purchase NM fresh fruits and vegetables for the schools

Promotes the use of NM fresh fruits and vegetables in school meals and the food

stream

Increases nutrition for children by using healthy, local, affordable produce

Creates healthier outcomes in the long term

Expands the wholesale market for farmers

2. What is New Mexico Grown’s most important accomplishment?

Funding appropriated, distributed, and spent

Funding that provides schools with effective incentives to use NMG

Expanding the quantities of NMG purchases, resulting in higher consumption by

students

Greater understanding and support for NMG among legislators

3. What are the strengths of the NM Grown initiative?

Creating opportunities for children to eat well and learn about NMG foods/nutrition

Funding to support NMG

Program leadership and good collaborators

Wide network of participants (growers, school procurement and food/nutrition

directors, county extension, nongovernment agencies, legislators, etc.)

Expanding market for farmers

Impact of local purchases on NM economy

4. What are its challenges?

Need for centralized aggregation, distribution, and transportation

Need for training and assistance with procurement for new farmers

Pricing that supports both the agriculture and procurement sides of the program

Recruiting farmers to increase the scale of NMG

Partner commitment to overcome barriers and conflicting priorities

Low production harms program in short term and threatens it in the long term

Allocation amounts and delays in disbursement to schools dilute potential impact

5. In what ways is the work of the NM Grown initiative important to your business,

agency, organization, or program?

Providing fresh, local, affordable foods served to school children

Supporting local farmers and agriculture – expanding markets; increasing production

and sales; and increasing efficiency

Good match in missions

My organization is not directly benefitting from NMG


6. How do you see your organization/program’s contribution to NM Grown?

Providing peer learning – show farmers what I’ve done; show other school districts

what works for our district

Help to market, promote, get the word out

Act as a liaison – e.g., put growers and distributors together with food directors

Procurement by my school supports NMG

Love program but not funded to participate

7. What issues should we make sure to address during the retreat?

Identifying ways to allocate funding to have greater impact

Developing a strategy to continue to receive significant legislative appropriations

Delivering sufficient quantities to support participation by more schools and reduce

dependency on legislative appropriations

Maintaining consistent quality standards

Creating a robust distribution system supported by necessary infrastructure

Offering farmers a base price in line with cost of production

Having a way for farmers to notify schools of delay or inability to deliver

8. What is the most important outcome for us to accomplish?

Having a plan to move forward

Developing strategies that address barriers

Creating a better understanding of the overall system

Having the important parties at the table and being clear about respective points of

view

Strengthening agency commitment and involvement

Increasing funding


ATTACHMENT B: Worksheets from the Small Groups

Farm to Table: New Mexico Grown • March 10, 2016 • Action Planning Worksheet

Project/Initiative Title: Values-Driven Public Policy

Overall Intent or Aspiration of this Initiative: a) Define a flexible, transparent structure of values that are community-defined, b) break barriers/find or take advantage

of opportunities, c) people most impacted should be at center, d) FTT value sheet, e) partnerships are authentic.

Specific, Measurable Objective(s) by September 31, 2017:

a) PED is an active partner at the table, b) local-level policy and implementation – work with schools, schools boards,

etc., c) public reconfirmation of values/recipients. d) clear, comprehensive legislative agenda.

What must be done by: Goal (Accomplishment) Who?

September 30, 2017? Have a draft agenda (local, state, federal) ready to share

February 28, 2017? Engage and integrate local voices/knowledge into agenda

July 31, 2016? Advocate with new group agenda

First Quarter Launch Action Steps

March-to July Implementation Steps Who? By When?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.



Working Group Member Contact Information: Resources Requested:

Pam

Nelsy

Rodrigo

Macaela

Alena

Patricia

Who else should be involved?

Thornburg – build into resiliency

Need agreements/ work plan to form an actual

working group.

NM Comm. Data Collaborative

NMFAPC, local-level FPCs, MRCOG (and other COGs)

Coordination/Communication Agreements:

Team Slogan:



Project/Initiative Title: Integrated Community Wellness

Overall Intent or Aspiration of this Initiative:

Create a healthy, plant-based, local food culture in families and schools in NM


Pilot a “how to” toolkit to help schools and communities create a healthy, plant-based, local food culture


September 30, 2017? Complete toolkit & begin dissemination, piloting and “guerilla

marketing”

See next page

February 28, 2017? Map assets, clarify roles, begin bringing resources under one roof See next page

July 31, 2016? Identify other partners/program and link current partners All and Leora



1. Create Google document with partner information (and new

partners)

Robert and Leora 3/31

2. Share current initiatives with partners (via Google doc) All 7/31

3. Hold in-person meeting (formal work group) All 7/31

4. Share NM (or similar) page live All 7/31

5.

6.




Leora Jaeger – Kids Cook

Anna Farrier – Cooking with Kids

Benita Litson – Dine College

Renee Conklin – Kids Cook

David Swan – Swan Kitchen

Jessica Swan – Swan Kitchen

Yin May Lee – Ramah Navajo School Board

Casey – Southwest Organizing Project

Kendall Chavez – Farm to Table

Robert Hubbard – Downtown Growers Market


Farmer with kids


Team Slogan:



Project/Initiative Title: Coordinated Infrastructure

Overall Intent or Aspiration of this Initiative: Coordinate farmers, producers, and processors to produce, store and deliver safe and quantity foods to schools


Identify a) existing coops, b) dark kitchens, and c) cold storage.

Hub/kitchens


September 30, 2017? Getting dark kitchens online

February 28, 2017? Getting refrigerated trucks to rural communities for aggregation

July 31, 2016? What do schools need (consumer demand)? What cold storage

exists? What trucks are available?


Which farmers want/can play?


1. Strengthen customer communication (school/farmer)

2. Collect/verify real-time farm data

3. Identify cold storage

4. Identify processing facilities

5. Identify delivery modes

6. Identify demand and supply – hoop houses, equipment and

farmers who can fulfill




Sayrah Namaste

Anzia Bennett

Sandra Kemp

Noreen Kelly

Jedrek Lamb

Susan Wilger

Ryan Schwebach

John Garlisch


Side conversations on food safety culture


Team Slogan:



Project/Initiative Title: Asset-Based Economic Development

Overall Intent or Aspiration of this Initiative:

Overcoming stakeholder barriers in order to create viable and resilient economics


Achieving economic sustainability through education, planning, and production


September 30, 2017? Asset inventory Govt. agencies

February 28, 2017? Forward contracting School districts &

farmers

July 31, 2016? Outreach and education Extension agents



1. Outreach and education: a) conduct farm tours/cafeteria tours, b)

increase access to USDA opportunities

Extension agents, state &

federal agencies,

stakeholders

March - July

2. Forward contracting: a) do farm planning, b) develop school

district menu

School districts, farmers/

ranchers, FSA

Early March

3. Develop farm directory and real-time access Farm to Table, farmers/

ranchers, state

End of July

4.

5.




Charlene Carr (IAIA) [email protected]

Dean Gallegos [email protected]

Anthony Wagner [email protected] 505-270-5015

Betsy Cull [email protected]

Danny Farrar [email protected] 505-852-3144


Federal funds

School district

Funding for procurement

Farm to Table

*PED*

USDA

NMDA

NMSU

IAIA

Other farmers


Team Slogan:

mailto:[email protected]





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