RELEASE: Schools, senior centers & farmers honored for promoting NM-grown food
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2025
Schools, senior centers & farmers honored for promoting
New Mexico-grown food
SANTA FE, NM – A record-breaking number of awardees will be honored Monday afternoon 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 New Mexico Department of Health is among the state agencies and 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 Kendal Chavez , Early Childhood Education & Care deputy secretary. “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 are:
Golden Chile (mature and fruitful program) : 20 total (seven food producers, two food hubs, three preschools, four schools and four senior centers)
Anthony Youth Farm
Desert Verde Farm in Santa Fe
Full Circle Mushrooms in La Mesa
Gathings Gardens in Bloomfield
KC Gardens in Fruitland
Khalsa Family Farms in Española
The Veggie Shack in Portales
Frontier Food Hub in Silver City
San Juan College Harvest Food Hub
A Gold Star Academy & Child Development Center in Farmington
Christina Kent Early Childhood Center in Albuquerque
Future Generations, LLC, in Clovis
Elida Municipal Schools
Las Cruces Public Schools
Portales Municipal Schools
Roswell Independent School District
San Juan County – Blanco & Lower Valley senior centers
Campos Senior Center in Santa Rosa
City of Albuquerque’s Senior Affairs
Sandoval County Senior Services
Blossom (program reaching maturity) : 31 total (five food producers, 10 preschools, nine schools, seven senior centers)
Bluffs Farm & Stark Family farm in Bloomfield
Edgars Farm in Farmington
Heyash Farms in Laguna
New Mexico Hair Sheep Producers in Monticello
Twin Rivers Farm in Roswell
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
Aztec Municipal Schools
Bernalillo Public Schools
Bloomfield Municipal Schools
Clovis Municipal Schools
Cobre Consolidated School District
Cuba Independent Schools
Dexter Consolidated Schools
Gallup McKinley County Schools
Hozho Academy in Gallup
Aztec Senior Center
Adelante Development Center in Albuquerque
City of Las Cruces Senior Programs
Los Alamos Retired & Senior Organization
Meals on Wheels NM in Albuquerque
Rio Arriba County Senior Services
Santa Fe County Senior Services
Sprout (program growing strong) : 26 total (two food producers, one food hub, six preschools, 11 schools, six senior centers)
Heart of the Desert Pistachios & Wine in Alamogordo
New Mexico Beef in Anton Chico
Pueblo Fruits Food Hub in Albuquerque
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
Albuquerque Public Schools
Los Lunas Public Schools
McCurdy Charter School
Moriarty Edgewood School District
Mountainair Public Schools
Pojoaque Valley Schools
Rio Rancho Public Schools
Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools
Silver Consolidated Schools
Turquoise Trail Charter School in Santa Fe
West Las Vegas School District
Bernalillo County – Parks, Recreation & Open Space
Deming Luna County Commission on Aging
Las Cumbres Community Services in Española
La Loma Senior Center in Anton Chico
Puerto de Luna Senior Center
Seed (program has potential) : 16 total (five preschools, eight schools, three senior centers)
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
Albuquerque School of Excellence
Belen Consolidated Schools
Estancia Municipal Schools
Floyd Municipal Schools
Hobbs Municipal Schools
Maxwell Municipal Schools
Raton Public Schools
Taos Municipal Schools
City of Las Vegas Senior Program
Eunice Senior Center
Town of Vaughn Senior Center
School districts had the highest participation in the Golden Chile Awards program this year, with 32 earning awards. About half of the 24 preschools being honored this year achieved advanced awards.
###
NMDOH
David Morgan, Public Information Officer. | david.morgan@doh.nm.gov | (575) 649-0754
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) works to promote health and wellness, improve health outcomes, and deliver services to all New Mexicans. As New Mexico’s largest state agency, NMDOH offers public health services in all 33 counties and collaborates with 24 Native American Tribes, Pueblos and Nations.
New Mexico Department of Health | 1190 S St Francis…