The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) and New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD) are partnering to encourage support of homegrown and homemade products in response to the continued impact of COVID-19.
NMDA and NMTD are encouraging New Mexico residents to support New Mexico agribusinesses, restaurants, artisans, merchants, processors and growers by ordering take-out from local restaurants and shopping at stores, farmers’ markets and online for locally-sourced and produced products.
NMTD will begin promoting New Mexico True Certified products through social media to encourage residents to support local businesses. NMTD also created an online catalog of New Mexico True Certified products for shoppers who wish to purchase directly online.
“It’s incredibly important to support our local businesses and merchants during this difficult time,” said Cabinet Secretary of Tourism Jen Paul Schroer. “This campaign features authentic New Mexican products available for online purchase. Behind every product is a story about a farmer, an artist, or a merchant sharing their talent to make something special for the world to enjoy.”
“New Mexico’s agribusinesses are the heart of our state, and as all New Mexico citizens experience unprecedented interruptions to daily life, it is important now more than ever to recognize the needs of our local growers and agribusiness owners, whose livelihoods are being affected,” Cabinet Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte said. “By ordering take-out from your favorite New Mexico restaurants, shopping for locally-made and sourced products in stores and online, or purchasing a gift card from a nearby business, you will be supporting our New Mexico neighbors and our state’s economy during this critical time.”
Both NMDA and NMTD have brand extension programs to identify locally-sourced products.
NMDA has the New Mexico—Taste the Tradition® and New Mexico—Grown with Tradition® logo program. NMTD’s New Mexico True Certified Program allows New Mexico businesses with products 100 percent made or grown in New Mexico the opportunity to share their brand with the power of New Mexico True.
For more information about the New Mexico —Taste the Tradition® and New Mexico—Grown with Tradition® logo programs, contact Felicia Frost at FFrost@nmda.nmsu.edu or 575-646-1939. Like Taste the Tradition on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tastenewmexico/ and follow them on Instagram @tastethetradition.
New Mexico businesses that offer products 100 percent grown or produced in New Mexico can join the New Mexico True Certified Program online. For more information, visit www.newmexico.org/industry/work-together/true-certified.