Towards a Fair Trade State

World and interstate exports help boost NM farm income, and support jobs on-farm and for food processing, storage and transportation. About 12% (2008) of all NM ag cash receipts come from world exports. Mexico and NM have many reciprocal trade agreements (e.g. in-shell pecans are shelled in maquiladoras and re-sold to the US). NM imports 97% of its food, and "free trade" has undermined NM's chile industry.

Dream: The State/Tribes carve out laws (state sovereignty) favoring: local purchasing; minority-owned businesses; rewards for eco-friendly farming practices; and culturally iconic foods that can withstand attack by global trade and investment agreements. Fair Trade and Green/Sustainable Farm Certification are strategies to help disadvantaged farmers in both NM and poorer nations. Disadvantaged farmers profit from: integrative supply chains; product certification; scaled food-safety rules; and alternative trading patterns.

Dream: price security; long-term contracts with pre-payments during hard times; market access; preserving family farms; growing capacity through new infrastructure, technology and technical assistance; and eco-friendly rewards.