A team effort is bringing free locally grown fresh produce free to Duke City residents experiencing food insecurity. The Albuquerque chapter of the NAACP, University of New Mexico, New Mexico Department of Health, and local farmers brought boxes of fresh produce to Phil Chacon Park on Saturday for a “Food Is Medicine Produce Fair,” all to combat one small part of New Mexico’s food insecurity epidemic. Veronica Grego, program manager for nutrition programs available through NMDOH, said Native Americans who are 55 and older, and other seniors who are 60 and over, are eligible for free boxes, based on incomes below 200% of federal poverty guidelines. “As soon as they see that it’s fresh produce, they’re amazed at what is inside of there,” Grego said. “They’re getting carrots, they’re getting turnips, microgreens, pretty much everything that is very nutritious for them.”Besides the free distribution of fresh produce, the “Food Is MedicineProduce Fair” had demonstrations of cooking nutritious recipes and information on anti-hunger government programs.”I’m hoping that they learn about the fresh nutrition of our produce that our farmers are growing, and then they also learn about our program, the WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition through the New Mexico Department of Health. We want to expand our program to be able to provide this fresh produce to our community members throughout New Mexico.””Food Is Medicine Produce Fairs” will also be held at farmers markets throughout Albuquerque Metro for the month of July.
A team effort is bringing free locally grown fresh produce free to Duke City residents experiencing food insecurity.
The Albuquerque chapter of the NAACP, University of New Mexico, New Mexico Department of Health, and local farmers brought boxes of fresh produce to Phil Chacon Park on Saturday for a “Food Is Medicine Produce Fair,” all to combat one small part of New Mexico’s food insecurity epidemic.
Veronica Grego, program manager for nutrition programs available through NMDOH, said Native Americans who are 55 and older, and other seniors who are 60 and over, are eligible for free boxes, based on incomes below 200% of federal poverty guidelines.
“As soon as they see that it’s fresh produce, they’re amazed at what is inside of there,” Grego said. “They’re getting carrots, they’re getting turnips, microgreens, pretty much everything that is very nutritious for them.”
Besides the free distribution of fresh produce, the “Food Is MedicineProduce Fair” had demonstrations of cooking nutritious recipes and information on anti-hunger government programs.
“I’m hoping that they learn about the fresh nutrition of our produce that our farmers are growing, and then they also learn about our program, the WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition through the New Mexico Department of Health. We want to expand our program to be able to provide this fresh produce to our community members throughout New Mexico.”
“Food Is Medicine Produce Fairs” will also be held at farmers markets throughout Albuquerque Metro for the month of July.
