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Committee approves memorial to study feasibility of feeding more New Mexico-grown meat and dairy to schoolchildren
Summary
Senate Memorial 19, which would create a working group to study whether 50% of beef, milk and cheese fed to New Mexico schools can be sourced from in-state producers, received a do-pass recommendation after testimony from agriculture groups and discussion of supply-chain and distribution challenges.
Senator Boone presented Senate Memorial 19 seeking a study on whether half of the beef, milk and cheese served in New Mexico public schools can come from in-state producers. The memorial requests a working group to consult producers, processors and state agencies and to report recommendations to the Department of Agriculture and the Public Education Department for appropriate distribution.
Supporters included Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association and the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau. Tom Patterson of the Cattle Growers called the memorial “aspirational” but achievable and said the group would work on supply-chain infrastructure. Rocky Mountain Farmers Union said a guaranteed market for local products would provide revenue stability for producers and strengthen local food-system resilience.
Members discussed logistics and implementation questions: whether the effort should be statewide or regionally phased, how to address packaging and distribution, and which entities would bear increased cost if local products are more expensive. Senators suggested adjusting timelines (one asked that report dates be moved to November 1 to allow more time) and recommended including additional stakeholders such as the Farm and Livestock Bureau on the working group. Some senators suggested phasing (for example starting at a lower percentage and ramping up) to allow infrastructure to scale.
Senator Jaramillo and others noted existing programs linking local producers and schools and recommended coordination with New Mexico Grown supplier lists. The committee approved a due-pass recommendation and sponsors said they will gather suggested amendments and work with Education committee members before floor consideration.
