WHAT WE DO

Agri-Cultura Network (ACN) is a network of over 73 regional farmers, growers, and ranchers in 14 rural and urban New Mexico counties that collectively engage in crop planning, aggregation, and distribution of locally grown, sustainable, healthy food.  Attention is given to e every aspect of the food system from soil to seedling, from produce, aggregation, handling, sales, to distribution.  Fresh harvest produce and meets are sold to institutions, retailers and wholesale markets and are made available to community residents and consumers at affordable prices through La Cosecha Community Supported Agricultural seasonal distribution bags.

OUR SERVICES

Agri-Cultura Network (ACN) works with farms throughout the South Valley area and allied farms statewide to engage in a collective wholesale business that aggregates, processes, packages, delivers, negotiates contracts, collects customer payments, and distributes payments for produce to farmers. 

We emphasize food safety and a strong commitment to product quality. ACN carries a 3-million-dollar liability insurance covering produce that is sold.

A central focus of ACN’s work is also to develop skills for farmers, growers, ranchers and offers on-the-farm capacity building trainings including in the areas of organic and sustainable growing practices, food safety, new technologies, seed handling, and more.

Continuous market expansion and the creation of healthy value-added shelf-ready products, such as spices and dehydrated ready-to-enjoy snacks, ensures Network farm harvests and product options are versatile and fully used.

Our Food Safety Program includes:

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Regular on-farm food safety inspections covering water use, sanitization of harvest tools and equipment, produce washing procedures, organic and sustainable growing practices, farmer training processes

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Follow-up meetings with farmers throughout the season to provide technical assistance and monitoring
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All produce sold through the ACN is processed at the Mixing Bowl, an FDA registered commercial kitchen, at the South Valley Economic Development Center

  • ACN’s operations at the Mixing Bowl are USDA Harmonized GAP Plus+ certified for food safety, the highest level of food safety certification

  • Produce is packaged to customer specifications and delivered
ACN Network Farms and Ranchers are either certified organic or grow in ways that are sustainable and follow organic practices.

Farm and ranch growing practices include:

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Integrated Pest Management

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No spray or use of only organic-approved sprays

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Methods of soil building through cover cropping, composting, and use of organic amendments

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Strict adherence to food safety principles

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Annual Crop Planning
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Provide a living wage and safe working environment for all staff
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Community and environmental leadership as a component of our ever-growing business operations and partner programs with La Cosecha CSA