Participating in local food procurement programs: New Mexico food producer perspectives

Producers are critical to local food procurement initiatives. We assessed New Mexico food producers’ perspectives of motivators and barriers to participating in a statewide local food procurement program, New Mexico Grown. Among 58 survey participants, most were located in rural counties (53%) and sold produce (53%). Building new relationships with buyers (63%), increasing sales (61%), and connecting with community (55%) were top motivators to participating. Top barriers were not knowing about New Mexico Grown (36%), paperwork/administrative burden (28%), and limited supply (21%). Addressing barriers and strengthening facilitators could promote producer participation in New Mexico Grown and local food procurement initiatives.