SANDOVAL COUNTY RECEIVES THE NEW MEXICO GROWN
GOLDEN CHILE AWARD FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR
New Mexico Grown Golden Chile Awards designed to celebrate the hard work of all nutrition providers
Bernalillo, NM, September 14, 2022 – For the second consecutive year, Sandoval County’s Senior Program has earned the Golden Chile Award from New Mexico Grown in recognition of its innovative Senior Center food programming. This top award, received today, honors a program that is mature and fruitful according to New Mexico Grown, and recognizes the partnership and commitment to improving access to New Mexico Grown foods for all New Mexicans.
Regarding the award, Community Services Director Anne Ryan shared, “Healthy communities are created by healthy economies, and when we support our local tanners a cascade of health benefits result- for the grower, the consumer, and the community as a whole. Sandoval County Senior Programs’ staff has done a remarkable job of helping to ensure food security for Sandoval Seniors. This award was hard earned and is well deserved.”
The Golden Chile Award Program is managed and organized by the NM Grown Coalition, a network of public institutions, community-based organizations, and individuals working together to strengthen community food systems across New Mexico. Golden Chile Award levels include Golden Chile, Blossom, Sprout, and Seed. Applicant programs are evaluated in the following categories and must have at least one or more of the five core areas below:
- NM Grown Items Available on Menus
- NM Grown Cafeteria Promotions and Culturally Aligned Materials
- Edible Gardens and Outdoor Environments
- NM Grown Eaters’ Choice Activities
- Sustainability of the NM Grown Program
For more information about New Mexico Grown and the Golden Chile Awards, please visit: https://www.nmhealth.org.
Sandoval County, the fastest-growing county in New Mexico, encompasses 3,714 square miles of diverse geography and has a population of approximately 151,000 people. It includes the incorporated municipalities of Bernalillo, Cuba, Corrales, Jemez Springs, Rio Rancho, San Ysidro, and the Town of Cochiti Lake as well as numerous unincorporated communities, and all or portions of 12 Indian Pueblos and Tribal Nations.