Summit promotes local food

It was a busy, yet successful, two-day summit for Ogallala Commons (OC) as they put on their first ever Brazos River Headwaters Local Food Summit at Clovis Community College (CCC) on Tuesday and Wednesday.

OC describes itself on its website as a multi-state "nonprofit education and leadership organization that reinvigorates commonwealth to build vibrant Great Plains communities." OC's website states the organization has established chapters in areas covered by the Ogallala Aquifer, which provides water to Curry and Roosevelt counties.

OC partnered with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at CCC, along with Curry and Roosevelt Chambers of Commerce and Clovis Economic Development to put on the event.

The purpose of the summit was to stress the importance of food that is grown and crafted locally, according to Berlin Arellano, OC New Mexico regional coordinator. She said there were about 30 people in attendance. While she had hoped for a larger turnout, Arellano said she thinks that the event was such a success, it will continue to grow year after year.

"It was a really good convening of people growing food and of those trying to aggregate and find where the local produce is being grown," Arellano said.

The summit consisted of various presentations, tours and showings. All of the meals served at the summit included only ingredients that were produced locally.

"They (OC) do several of these food summits throughout the region that covers five states. Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and of course, New Mexico," said Sandra Taylor-Sawyer, director of the SBDC at CCC. "I know that they got a really good benefit from (the summit)."

"I think that it has a very good potential to grow. I did have some of the presenters reach out to me that said it was a really great program that they're looking forward to next year," Arellano said.