Las Cruces City Council approved a new Urban Agriculture and Food Policy Plan for the city, which establishes support for equitable food and agriculture policies in Las Cruces.
The Urban Agriculture and Food Policy Plan recommends educational activities, policies and programs to promote equitable food and agriculture practices for the city of Las Cruces. Krysten Aguilar, Food Planning and Policy Specialist at La Semilla Food Center, says the plan was developed with community input.
“So this plan really just lays out support and incentivizes in and around the city of Las Cruces,” Aguilar said. “So really looking at things like growing food, processing food, community kitchens, community gardens, everything from seed to table basically.”
Aguilar says urban agriculture offers social, health and economic benefits.
“It’s really great for people whenever they are part of a community garden or there is a lot of green space it’s great for mental health,” Aguilar said. “It’s good for building community. It’s really great for increasing safety in communities as well. People who garden and are part of a community garden are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables. It’s just a really great way to build community create new economic opportunities for people as well.”
City Councilor Greg Smith says the plan doesn’t tie any city money to projects at this time, but establishes the goals of the plan as priorities for future planning.
“Where we say we’ve got this interest in doing more with the agricultural piece,” Smith said. “Then maybe more can be done with personal gardening plots or homes designed around a community garden. I think there are all kinds of innovative ways that this can grow.”
The Mesilla Valley Food Policy Council will now work with city staff to begin prioritizing and implementing their goals for the city.
