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On Thursday, October 12, 2023 more than 200 guests attended the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute’s Cultivating Community event in the Market Pavilion. It was a festive gathering of Santa Fe Farmers’ Market vendors, community supporters, and public servants.
A reception with music by The Absolute Jazz Trio (Chris Ishee, piano, Alex Murzyn, flute and saxophone, and Justin Bransford, bass) set the tone for the evening, while a silent auction opened the event. The Institute expresses its gratitude to the more than 70 New Mexico businesses that contributed items to the silent auction, allowing us to surpass our goal for the auction. There was something for everyone: from private dinners prepared by chefs and restaurant gift cards to tastings of mezcal, gin, and natural wines. Cultural packages featuring museum tours and concert tickets were popular. A fair trade gold necklace and handcrafted silver earrings were available for the grown-ups, and sporting equipment and toys for the young or the young at heart. All went home as happy bidders. Hors d’oeuvres were passed, and beverages provided included: Gruet Chardonnay 2019 and Gruet Pinot Noir 2020; Hidden Mountain Brewery Mexican Lager and Road Runner IPA; Silver Medal-winning Black Mesa Winery & Cidery “Bite Me Hard” Prickly Pear Cider and Fall Apple Cassis Cider; Spiced La Mesa Farms apple cider; and lemon juice, cassis, and candied ginger (nonalcoholic).
Institute Board Chair, Michael Knight, welcomed guests and introduced the following dignitaries who spent their evening with us: Representative Reena Szczepanski of House District 47 Majority Whip of the New Mexico House of Representative and her colleague Babaak Parcham, Legislative Director, Office of House Majority Whip Reena Szczepanski; Kendal Chavez, Food and Hunger Advisor, Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham; Signe Lindell, District 1 Councilor and Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Santa Fe; and Matt Miller, Field Representative for Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández. The Institute thanks them for leadership in promoting agriculture and addressing food insecurity in Northern New Mexico.
Executive Director Manny Encinias, Ph.D. then discussed Institute programs for farmers and other vendors. Chef Alain Jorand of Adobo Catering curated the meal with ingredients sourced from Santa Fe Farmers’ Market vendors: Annie’s Herb Farm; Buckin’ Bee Honey; Camino de Paz; CLC Pecans, LLC; Cloud Cliff Bakery; DVG LLC/Dome Valley Garlic Oil; EFT Farms; El Guique Farm; Farm Stand Thank & Trust; Gonzalez Farm; Green Tractor Farm; La Mesa Farms; Lotus Farms; Maria’s Farm; Mendez Produce; Monte Vista Farm; One Straw Farm; Orozco Farm; Rey Romero Farm; Reyah Sunshine Farm, LLC.; Sanchez Farm; Southwest Mushroom Cultivators; The Vagabond Farmers; and Trilogy Beef Community.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2023 Farmer All Star Awards by A.Dion Silva, President of Santa Fe Region Enterprise Bank & Trust and Mary Dixon, Secretary of the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute Board of Directors and a 2013 All Star winner for Green Tractor Farm. Award winners were Stephanie Dukette, Southwest Mushroom Cultivators (Santa Fe, N.M.); Agustin and Maria Orozco, El Guique Farm (El Guique, N.M.); and Ted Salazar, Maria’s Farm (Velarde, N.M). Videos of the farmers may be viewed here. Ted Salazar’s beautiful flower bouquets inspired the lovely centerpieces by floral designer Carole Áine Langrall of A Garden of Earthly Delights. Flowers were sourced from El Jardin De Flores, Flor del Rio, and Rocio Produce, in addition to Maria’s Farm.
The 2023 Community All Star Award – only the sixth in Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute history – was presented to Susan Tarver, Executive Director, Bienvenidos Outreach Inc., Santa Fe, and Founder, Eldorado Farmers’ Market. Lisa Kantor, 2023 Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute Board of Directors Microloan Chair, and Nery Martinez, Member 2023 Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute All Star Selection Committee and Manager of 2016 All Star Santa Cruz Farm & Greenhouses bestowed the award.
Mark C. Johnson, Director of Sales and Business Development for New Mexico Fresh Foods, led the paddle raise to support these Institute programs: Double Up Food Bucks program, which doubles the purchasing power of SNAP participants; Fresh Rx, a produce prescription plan; and such farmer and rancher programs as the Microloan Program, Healthy Soils and Value-Added Foods certification training.
Without the generosity of time and spirit of the Institute’s cadre of dedicated volunteers, an event of this size would simply not be possible. The Institute expresses its gratitude to the following volunteers who helped to make this event a success: Lovett Bayne, Kyle Burns, Mikela Burris, Ami Caldwell, Chris Castro, Edna Conti, Sue Cossman, Mary Dixon, Angelica Duran, Sharon Eklund, Karen Fine, Brooke Foster, James Gould, Kathy Harris, Robert W. Jones, JD, Kody Kantor, Lisa Kantor, Sue Kimberlin, Michael Knight, Gabriela Leon, Ann MacVicar, Roger Marroquin, Josina Martinez, Monica Martinez-Pringle, Kay Matsumoto, Carleen Miller, Russ Mitchell, Alice Montoya, Cynthia Perez, Eva Maria Raepple, Diane Sandoval-Griego, Paulina Terrazas, Rebecca Tobey, Pam Walker, and Marina Ybarra.
2022 All Star Amy Fagan created the delicious dessert: Crumpackers Bakery Green Chile Apple Squares with Maple Syrup and Crème Fraîche, which was served with EFT Farms' Cota Navajo tea. It was a sweet ending to a heartwarming evening with those who enrich our lives each and every day by producing fresh, local, nutritious food.
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