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Local Food Connections - Supporting Food and Farms in New Mexico's Middle Rio Grande Region
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The Local Food Connections e-newsletter will now be sent out the first week of each month, so look forward to September's newsletter in just a few weeks!

Announcing the Agriculture Collaborative e-Newsletter

Fresh news on local foods and

agriculture delivered right to your inbox each month!

 

If you've been a member of the Agriculture Collaborative for a while now, you may remember our quarterly printed newsletter- The Agribusiness Connection.  We are now excited to announce the replacement of that printed publication with a monthly e-format newsletter- Local Food Connections. This new publication will keep you better informed about local foods and agriculture in our Central New Mexico region through:

  • Listings of upcoming events, workshops, and meetings
  • "Meet the Farmer" profiles (or grower, producer, etc)
  • Recipes of the month, along with seasonal growing and cooking tips
  • Featured articles on a variety of local food and agriculture topics
  • Current news and updates on what is going on in the community, as well as our efforts here at the Agriculture Collaborative

In addition to our new e-newsletter, we've made some other changes in 2008:

  • We changed our organization's name from the Agribusiness Collaborative to the Agriculture Collaborative in an effort to better represent small and medium sized farms in our four-county region.
  • We launched a new website www.localfoodnm.org which features our new Local Food Blog.
  • We launched our online Local Food Maps to help you eat more local more often.
  • We organized the first ever Local Food Festival and Field Day.  If you missed it, click here to learn more and watch the festival video.

Help our newsletter grow!  Forward it to your friends and family who enjoy supporting local foods in our region.
Be a Part of our Newsletter

There are a variety of ways in which you can contribute to our newsletter.  Contribute your favorite seasonal recipe to be featured as our recipe of the month, or share a seasonal growing tip with other Agriculture Collaborative members.  Do you know of an upcoming local food and agriculture event? Let us know so we can include it in our listing of upcoming events.   We are also looking for local growers, producers, markets, chefs, and organizations related to local foods to feature in our newsletter, as well as on our Local Food Blog. Click here to find out how you or your organization can be featured. 

Please email KT LaBadie at localfoodnm@mrcog-nm.gov if you are interested in contributing.

 

Veteran Lonnie Nettles is a vendor at the VA Growers Market. He has been growing and selling cucumbers and Crenshaw melons for 12 years.
Market of the Month: The VA Growers Market
 
For a wonderful new market in a great setting, be sure to check out the VA Growers Market. Currently in its second year, this market is an initiative by the VA Medical Center's Employee Wellness Committee. It was formed to help provide employees with fresh local foods while also providing veteran growers with increased opportunities to sell their fresh produce and value-added products.
Market facts and details:
  • All vendors at the VA Growers market must be veterans, and there are no fees to be a vendor.
  • The market is open to the general public, and has a great turnout from VA Medical Center Employees.
  • The market started 2 years ago with only 2 vendors selling produce.  There are now 15 vendors registered, and approximately 8 vendors are present each week.
  • It's a unique market which serves as a model for other institutions and campuses to follow.
This Wednesday market can be a great addition to any local food diet by supplying fresh produce to you and your family mid-week. Be sure to stop by the market and support your local veteran farmers!  Show up early for the best selection and don't forget the picnic basket- as the market location offers a variety of picnic tables and open space.
 
The VA Growers Market is held in the VA Park at Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center, on Wednesdays from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm (July to October). For directions, check out their listing on our Local Foods Map.  If you are a veteran and are interested in selling at this market, contact John Renna at (505) 265-1711 ext. 2504. 

 

Family recipe provided by KT LaBadie, of the Agriculture Collaborative.
Recipe of the Month: Easy Fridge Pickles
 
Are your fields and refrigerators overflowing with cucumbers this time of year, and are you running out of ways to prepare them? This recipe requires few ingredients, minimal time, and the pickles can be stored right in your refrigerator- no canning involved.  These pickles may only have a shelf life of 3 weeks- but the taste is amazing and your fresh pickled cucumbers will be devoured in no time.

Here is what you need to make these easy pickles: 
  • A small crock or a large plastic storage container
  • Small pickling cucumbers or larger cucumbers cut into 1 inch slices- local fresh cucumbers are best!
  • 4 fresh dill seed heads
  • 3 cloves of garlic peeled
  • 2 quarts of water
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar or Apple cider
  • 1/4 cup canning salt (sea salt works well too)
Once you have all of your ingredients together, follow these easy directions and your pickles will be ready in no time. First place the garlic in the container, then add 2 dill seed heads, layer 1/2 of the cucumbers, add the rest of the dill and finish off with the rest of the cucumbers.  Set the container off to the side, and bring the water to a boil. Then turn off the heat, add the vinegar and salt, and stir until the salt is dissolved.  Allow brine to cool for 5 minutes, and then pour it over the cucumbers. Cover the container and leave on the counter for 24 hours, and then keep them refrigerated. These pickles will stay fresh and tasty for up to 3 weeks.


Did you miss our Agriculture Collaborative meeting held on August 13th?  Click here for a recap.
Local Food and Agriculture Events
 
Each month our e-newsletter will inform you about upcoming local food events in our region such as:
  • Monthly Agriculture Collaborative meetings
  • Community events at farmers markets
  • Agri-tourism events and festivals
  • and food and agriculture related workshops and meetings 
Despite this month nearing its end, many great events are still to come over the next few weeks, such as the 2008 Albuquerque Tomato Fiesta and the New Mexico Wine Festival at Bernalillo. Check out our Local Food Blog to learn more about these and other great upcoming events.
  
Have an event you would like listed for September?  Contact us today.

Mid-Region Council of Governments
Agriculture Collaborative
809 Copper Avenue, NW Albuquerque, NM 87102
Please contact us at localfoodnm@mrcog-nm.gov


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