Wholehearted Food Fund
Combating Hunger With Local Livestock
In New Mexico, food insecurity is a daily reality for countless families, not an abstract concept.
Periods of crisis and economic disruption make access to nutritious food even more precarious,
especially in rural and Tribal communities. Simultaneously, small and mid-scale livestock
producers are challenged by market volatility, processing limitations, and fewer opportunities to
reach buyers.
The Wholehearted Food Fund (WFF) was established to meet both needs—providing
immediate food assistance to families and supporting the stability of local producers who ensure
future food security.
Why This Work Matters
During the statewide COVID-19 shutdown, unemployment and food insecurity surged
throughout New Mexico. Food pantries saw unprecedented spikes in demand, and state agencies
struggled to keep shelves stocked.
Meanwhile, livestock producers faced severe market disruptions caused by restaurant closures
and processing bottlenecks. Rural communities were especially impacted by limited broadband,
strained healthcare systems, fragile agricultural economies, and worsening food insecurity.
The Wholehearted Food Fund responded by bolstering local food systems—linking New Mexico
ranchers, USDA-inspected processors, and food pantries through a coordinated, community-
driven model.
About the Wholehearted Food Fund
Talus Wind Heritage Meats (TWHM) launched the Wholehearted Food Fund (WFF) in 2020 in
direct response to food insecurity and agricultural disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a member of New Mexico Grown, TWHM supports statewide efforts to bolster local and
regional food systems.
Talus Wind Heritage Meats designed and implemented the program to:
• Deliver locally raised meat protein to New Mexico food pantries and Tribal Nations
• Provide fair, market-based income to livestock producers
• Utilize USDA-inspected processing facilities to ensure food safety and regulatory
compliance
• Retain food system dollars within New Mexico’s rural economy
The Wholehearted Food Fund operated from 2020 through 2023.
How the Program Worked
The Wholehearted Food Fund adopted a vertically coordinated local protein model to maximize
efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
New Mexico producers raised beef, pork, lamb, and mutton using responsible livestock practices.
Talus Wind Heritage Meats coordinated the donor-supported livestock purchases and sourcing.
All animals were harvested and processed under full USDA inspection, then packaged in formats
suitable for food pantries. The finished products were delivered directly to partner pantries and
distributed through existing food box programs.
This model ensured food safety, traceability, and operational efficiency, all while strengthening
local agricultural supply chains.
Documented Program Impact (2020–2024)
From 2020 to 2023, the Wholehearted Food Fund implemented a coordinated procurement and
distribution framework that unified producers, processors, donors, and food pantries.
Key outcomes included:
• Approximately $150,000 in donor-supported livestock purchases
• Distribution of over 85,000 servings of locally raised meat protein
• Direct partnerships with New Mexico food pantries such as The Community Pantry in
Gallup, Bethel Communtiy Storehouse, Moriarty, New Mexico Regional Farm to
Food Bank
• Fair, transparent compensation for local livestock producers
• Ongoing use of independent USDA-inspected processing facilities
In 2022, the Wholehearted Food Fund received the USDA Community Food Program award
from the National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA) Project Planning Committee,
recognizing its contributions to community food security and food system resilience.
Collaboration with NM Grown and USDA Regional Farm to Food Bank (2023–2025)
Beginning in 2023, Talus Wind Heritage Meats, through the Wholehearted Food Fund
framework, collaborated with NM Grown Local Food Procurement and the USDA-funded
Regional Farm to Food Bank initiative in New Mexico.
The USDA Regional Farm to Food Bank program was established under the American Rescue
Plan Act of 2021, through the USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) initiative, as
part of the federal response to pandemic-era food system disruptions. The program was designed
to strengthen regional food systems by connecting local producers with food banks and
emergency feeding organizations. It reflected a nationalized expansion of community-based,
locally driven procurement models that had already been implemented through initiatives such
as the Wholehearted Food Fund.
Under this collaboration, $120,000 was earmarked for Talus Wind Heritage Meats’ food bank
initiatives between 2023 and 2025, supporting livestock procurement, USDA-inspected
processing, and coordinated distribution to emergency food providers across New Mexico.
Program Status and Stewardship
With the implementation of federally funded food procurement programs at the state level, the
Wholehearted Food Fund entered a planned hiatus beginning in 2023. This pause
demonstrated responsible coordination and stewardship, allowing USDA-funded programs to
lead emergency food procurement while avoiding duplication of effort.
As part of broader federal program changes, USDA announced the termination of the Regional
Farm to Food Bank program, with funding concluding in fiscal year 2025. This transition
provided an appropriate point for evaluation, documentation of outcomes, and reassessment of
future community food access strategies.
The hiatus reflects responsible program stewardship and does not represent program
abandonment.
Renewed Momentum and Current Activity
Following a period of evaluation and alignment, momentum is gradually rebuilding.
Looking ahead to 2026, Talus Wind Heritage Meats has initiated renewed food access activity in
collaboration with the Santa Fe Food Depot, supporting protein access for Tribal clients. A
confirmed purchase order for 2,000 pounds of bone-in cubed mutton, packaged into 1,000
frozen units, is scheduled for distribution.
This work represents a measured and intentional re-engagement with community food partners,
prioritizing responsiveness to identified needs, appropriate scale, and continued compliance with
USDA inspection and food safety standards.
What One Animal Can Do
Donor-supported livestock purchases generated measurable nutritional impact while keeping
food system dollars circulating locally.
An average 1,150-pound beef animal can yield approximately 569 pounds of meat, enough for
about 1,625 servings. A 250-pound hog yields roughly 140 pounds of meat, or 400 servings,
while a 90-pound lamb provides approximately 34 pounds of meat, or 97 servings.
Serving estimates are based on USDA dietary guidance of approximately 5.5 ounces per
serving.
Looking Ahead
The experience of the Wholehearted Food Fund, together with participation in NM Grown,
USDA procurement initiatives, and renewed community partnerships, continues to inform Talus
Wind Heritage Meats’ approach to producer support, processing capacity utilization, and
community food system design.
Key lessons include:
• Local procurement models are effective in emergency food response
• Processing capacity access is critical to producer resilience
• Integrated logistics reduces inefficiencies and waste
• Community-based models strengthen rural economies
These insights guide ongoing efforts to support New Mexico producers and improve access to
nutritious, locally raised protein through responsible, transparent food system solutions.