Giving New Mexico farmers, producers, and local food retailers the tools to GROW.
Research led by the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association
Bryan Crawford-Garrett / Danielle Duran / Kirsten Hansen
In 2025, the NMFMA led a qualitative research project with FreshRx patients and food suppliers to explore the benefits of using local produce in produce prescription (PPR) programs. Our findings showed that patients valued the produce as they were able to incorporate it into their family meals, and they appreciated the ability to access fresh food from local farmers. Moreover, food suppliers expressed close alignment with program goals and highlighted a connection to the communities and populations where their food is going. The experiences and voices of the patients and suppliers portrayed in this study offer a powerful lens for gaining a deeper understanding of the FreshRx program and broader local food systems in New Mexico.
Suggested Citation: Crawford-Garrett, B., Duran, D., Hansen, K. (2026). Exploring the Benefits of Local Food in the FreshRx Produce Prescription Program: Portraits from New Mexico. New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association.
This work is supported by the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), project award no. 2023-70414-40461 and no. 2022-70423-38069, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S Government determination or policy.
