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The Rio Grande community farm in Albuquerque, New Mexico is a fifty acre, non-profit urban
farm that grows organic food for the local area. We have a contract with Albuquerque
public schools to sell them food. We have a two acre community garden that is open to
anyone in the community. We have a farmer training program through Americorps. It’s
a full range of activities that really benefit the public here in Albuquerque all around
farming. U.S. Department of Agriculture officials say farms like this one enable Americans to
know their farmer and know their food.We want people to know that ultimately it takes a
farmer; it takes a grower, like this field, to produce these foods. And the more we can
encourage Americans to eat food that’s grown locally, if we can, that is less processed.
You know, Americans, we eat too many processed foods. The more we can get back to more basic,
healthy foods, we win in many, many ways.But meeting demand for locally grown food in an
already dry area dealing with droughts can be a challenge. So USDA’s Natural Resources
Conservation service helped the farm install technology to conserve water and keep crops
growing through dry times.Our drip system is a water conserving system that was installed
about three years ago with USDA funds and New Mexico Department of Ag funds. It’s
the most water efficient system that’s out there.The Rio Grande community farm was started
in nineteen ninety seven in an effort to preserve farm land in Albuquerque. For the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, I’m Bob Ellison.