Dec 1, 2025

RELEASE: Child care and early learning programs honored for promoting New Mexico-grown food

About half of the 24 early learning centers being honored achieved advanced awards

Visit the Early Childhood Education and Care Department Newsroom here .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 1, 2025

CONTACT

Julia Sclafani

Public Relations Specialist

Email: ECECD-PIO@ececd.nm.gov

Mobile: (505) 699-5937

1120 Paseo De Peralta

Santa Fe, NM 87501

nmececd.org

Child care and early learning programs honored for promoting New Mexico-grown food

About half of the 24 early learning centers being honored achieved advanced awards

SANTA FE – A record-breaking number of awardees will be honored Monday at the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque for their efforts to provide statewide New Mexico-grown food to children and seniors.

The Golden Chile Awards – established by the New Mexico Grown Coalition in 2021 – celebrate statewide efforts aimed at promoting good nutrition and supporting the state’s farming economy. The Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) is among the state agencies, community organizations and individuals working together to strengthen community food systems across New Mexico.

“We are so pleased to honor all the participants who have helped New Mexico create a robust local food system that expands the market for farmers and ranchers while providing nutritious food to children and seniors,” said ECECD Deputy Secretary Kendal Chavez . “For attendees of the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference, it is a great opportunity to see for themselves the people behind the success of New Mexico’s nation-leading food initiative.”

The New Mexico Grown Coalition established four recognition tiers for the Golden Chile Awards – Seed, Sprout, Blossom, and Golden Chile – to honor all levels of involvement.

The 2025 Golden Chile awardees include the following child care and early learning providers:

Golden Chile (mature and fruitful program):

A Gold Star Academy & Child Development Center in Farmington

Christina Kent Early Childhood Center in Albuquerque

Future Generations, LLC, in Clovis

Blossom (program reaching maturity):

Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces

Count Your Blessings Preschool in Moriarty

East Gate Kids Early Learning Center in Albuquerque

ECHO Aztec Preschool

Kidzo Children’s Christian Development Center in Clovis

Kingdom Builders Preschool & Daycare in Albuquerque

La Esperanza Preschool in Rio Rancho

My Kiddos Too in Roswell

New Mexico Early Learning Academy in Albuquerque/East Mountains

Western Heights Learning Center in Albuquerque

Sprout (program growing strong):

Arcoiris Development Center in Sunland Park

Kids Kountry Place in Las Cruces

La Vida Felicidad Early Learning Center in Los Lunas

Pueblo of Isleta Head Start & Child Care

Region 9 Head Start & Early Head Start in Ruidoso

Southwest Child Care Early Learning Center in Albuquerque

Seed (program has potential):

Little Castle Learning and Development Center in Artesia

Little Footprints in Hatch

New Mexico Children First in Sunland Park

Precious Moments Early Learning Center in Albuquerque

The Hive Education in Sunland Park

This is a republication of a New Mexico Department of Health press release. To view the complete list of winners, including schools, senior centers, food hubs, and food producers, see the original press release here: “ Schools, senior centers & farmers honored for promoting New Mexico-grown food ."

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Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham launched the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) in 2020, making New Mexico among the first states to consolidate all early childhood programs and services under a single cabinet-level agency. Under this administration, ECECD has led the nation by expanding access to free New Mexico PreK, overseeing the largest investment in early childhood infrastructure in state history, and implementing cost-free child care for a majority of New Mexico families. Learn more about how ECECD supports children, families, and the early childhood professionals that serve our communities at nmececd.org, or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram as @NewMexicoECECD.

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