Two Corrales Farms Share $178,342 to Boost Local Food Resilience
Two Corrales farms received $178,342 in USDA funding to expand processing and delivery capacity, a move that aims to strengthen local food supply chains and support farm incomes. The awards are part of a $3.54 million statewide investment in equipment, aggregation, processing and distribution capacity, and projects must be completed by December 15, 2026.
On December 5, 2025 two small Corrales farms were awarded federal grants intended to shore up New Mexico food system resilience. Corrales Classic Farms received $83,628 to purchase produce processing equipment, while Silverleaf Family Farms was awarded $94,714 to buy a refrigerated delivery vehicle. The combined total of $178,342 came from the USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program and was announced by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture as part of a broader $3.54 million statewide investment.
The funding targets practical bottlenecks in the local food chain. For Corrales Classic Farms the produce processing equipment will allow value added work such as washing, trimming and packaging to happen on site, which can extend shelf life, reduce postharvest losses and make products more attractive to retailers. For Silverleaf Family Farms the refrigerated delivery vehicle will expand cold chain capacity, enabling wider distribution to grocery stores, restaurants and institutional buyers while preserving freshness during transport.
Local economic effects are likely to be immediate and measurable. Smaller processing capabilities can increase the price per pound farmers capture by shifting some product out of raw commodity channels and into retail ready forms. Improved refrigerated distribution can open new markets beyond Sandoval County and reduce waste that cuts into farm margins. Both investments may also support modest job creation in packing, logistics and delivery operations as operations scale up to meet new orders.
The awards are framed as part of state efforts to build redundancy and responsiveness into New Mexico food systems by funding equipment, aggregation, processing and distribution capacity across the state. Recipients of the program are required to complete their projects by December 15, 2026, a timetable that places implementation within the coming year and sets a near term horizon for when local markets and consumers might see the benefits.
For Sandoval County residents these grants represent targeted public investment that can increase availability of locally grown produce, reduce food waste and help small farms compete in a market that increasingly values freshness and reliable delivery.
