New Mexico business tapped to develop Native Food Hub

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – Federal officials have reached an agreement with a New Mexico company to develop a plan for marketing produce grown by Native American farmers.

Rural development officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture say they have presented a certificate of obligation to Acoma Business Enterprise LLC. The effort to find more ways for the farmers to market their produce is being funded by a $75,000 grant.

The money will be used to develop a comprehensive business plan and a marketing study to create a Native Food Hub, which will be the first of its kind in the nation.

Officials say Native American farmers were finding that at the end of the growing season they usually had an abundance of produce that was not being sold or used.