Farmington moves toward a year-round Growers Market, expands SNAP access and school purchases

Host (identified on the program as the mayor) interviewed Bonnie Hopkins, the San Juan County Extension Agent, about efforts to support local agriculture and expand food access in Farmington and San Juan County.

Bonnie Hopkins said the Farmington Growers Market — located at the Farmington Gateway Museum since 2011 — began in 1991 and typically runs from June through October. "We're really hopeful this year the Farmington market's going to have its first year-round market," Hopkins said, describing plans to run a monthly winter market with baked goods, crafts and some produce from hoop houses and greenhouses.

The extension agent outlined several programs aimed at expanding access and markets for local growers. Hopkins said the New Mexico Farmers Marketing Association helps administer SNAP/EBT and the Double Up Food Bucks program at the market: shoppers swipe an EBT card at the information booth and receive $1 silver tokens equal to their swipe plus matching Double Up dollars in $2 increments that may only be used on fresh produce. "That's a really wonderful program where we can give access to our most vulnerable communities," she said.

Hopkins also described the Harvest Food Hub, operated by San Juan College and run by Market Director Jacqueline Montoya, as a distribution center that helps farmers reach institutional purchasers such as schools, daycares and senior centers. The hub now includes a commercial kitchen that farmers and food entrepreneurs can rent to make value-added products. "They really fill that gap by helping farmers get to institutional purchasers," Hopkins said.

On local procurement, Hopkins said Farmington schools purchase "over a hundred thousand dollars each year" of locally grown food, and schools are partnering to compost food waste and to install hoop houses and hydroponic grow towers so students can harvest classroom-grown produce for cafeterias. "It's really cool — the kids really get to be involved in growing their own food," Hopkins said.

Hopkins noted the county's agricultural footprint and water resources: the 2022 ag census listed about 2,500 registered farms in San Juan County for irrigated operations, and she estimated total local farm operations including smaller plots may be closer to 3,000. She also said there are roughly 40,000 irrigation users in San Juan County — people who hold irrigation or water rights and use surface water locally.

The extension office runs a New Mexico Land Link program that Hopkins described as "Tinder for farmland," pairing landowners who have underutilized acreage with new farmers, and the office is shifting training toward workforce development in partnership with San Juan College to prepare reliable farm labor.

Hopkins encouraged residents to visit the market and noted that vendors register through ManageMyMarket.com; the market board reviews applications, restricts reselling and limits non-agricultural vendors to preserve the market's agricultural focus. "If you've never been to the farmers' market, come down and try it out," she said.

The mayor's closing remarks thanked market volunteers and city parks staff for supporting the weekly market and encouraged residents across Farmington City and neighboring towns (Bloomfield, Aztec, Kirtland, Shiprock) to shop locally. The show ends with an invitation to attend Saturday markets and upcoming Tuesday evening markets in neighboring communities.

The extension and market organizers said next steps include piloting the winter monthly market, continuing SNAP/Double Up participation and expanding school and institutional procurement through the Harvest Food Hub.