The Albuquerque Farmers' And Growers Markets: Going For Locally Grown

The farmers’ and growers’ market season is in full bloom in the Rio Grande Valley, where farming has been a way of life for over 3,000 years. After years of decline and neglect, the small farm is making a comeback, not only because of the advantages of producing tasty and nutritious foods, but returning land to productive use for humans and wildlife alike.

Here in New Mexico, many farmers continue to irrigate their farms through the traditional acequia system and pro-duce vegetables and fruits on a small amount of arable land, necessary tactics in this region of urban sprawl. Complementing the efforts of these smaller farmers are the backyard growers who prove that you can grow more than for yourself and your family.

Many of the growers and farmers produce for a particular outdoor growers’ market in their community. Many are certified as organic and others simply grow their fruits and vegetables without pesticides and all harvest their produce with tender loving care. How Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays have changed in the Albuquerque area because of the markets!

The markets have brought neighborhoods together to mingle, gossip, eat, and buy fresh produce, baked goods, local dairy products, organic meats, and arts and crafts. Festivities such as music, cooking demonstrations, visits from the agricultural extension agents, book signings, and harvest festivals are common features of the markets.

The most pleasant part of any market is when grower meets consumer and each recognizes the importance of the other.

How many times has a consumer returned to the same stall and asked the grower, “Where are those wonderful peppers you had last week?” “When will your corn be ready?” This is an experience we hope everyone can have.

In the last year, the managers of the Albuquerque area markets have formed a coalition whose purpose is to share the costs of advertising and provide support for each other. Every market in the coalition has its own identity. Each has something different to offer, but they all sell New Mexican produce.

Farmers’ and growers’ markets have been in the Albu-querque area for at least 30 years, providing the citizens of the Albuquerque area with fresh fruits and vegetables wherever they live. The Albuquerque Growers’ Market (Caravan East), which was the first growers’ market, is open Saturdays and Tuesdays from 6 to 11 a.m.

With the recent death of Ed Shaffer, manager of this market, the coalition is in need of a new permanent manager.

In recent years, five additional markets have opened.

The Downtown Growers’ Market, located at Robinson Park (8th and Central), is open from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday mornings.

The South Valley Market, located at Cristo del Valle Presbyterian Church, 3907 Isleta SW, is open from 7 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday mornings.

The Corrales Growers’ Market, located in the center of Corrales across from the old post office, is open on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Village of Los Ranchos, located at 6718 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, is open on Saturdays from 7 to 11 a.m.

The Bernalillo Market, located in beautiful downtown Bernalillo, at 282 Camino del Pueblo, is open Friday evenings from 4 to 8 p.m.

Shopping at a growers’ market not only benefits the shopper who goes home with fresh, delicious and nutritious food, but also validates the growers’ commitment to continuing the tradition of New Mexico grown fruits and vegetables.

For the second year in a row, the federally and state funded Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is continuing to provide funds to women enrolled in the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program for the purpose of buying fresh fruits and vegetables at a farmers’ or growers’ market.

This program is a benefit not only to the women and children involved in the WIC program but to the farmers as well, since it provides them with an added outlet for their produce. This program is exposing clients and their children to good-tasting, nutritious food that may not be available in their local supermarkets.