The federal government has awarded New Mexico a $3.54 million grant to strengthen the state's food supply chain, and support projects that boost local distribution capacity.

The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grant will be divided up among 18 New Mexico-based agribusinesses, according to a November 24 release from the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. Among other projects, the money will help fund the purchasing of two mobile cold storage units for food pantry and seed library Frontier Food Hub, mobile kitchen and processing equipment upgrades for La Mesa Organic Farms, and expanded services for woman-owned food distribution service Statewide Products Company.

"Supporting our farmers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs is an investment in our economy, and in healthier communities and stronger connections between New Mexicans and the food grown here at home," said New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham. "These projects will help ensure that more of the food on our tables is produced, processed and distributed right here in New Mexico."

The RFSI grant program is focused on supporting projects that address the middle of the food supply chain, which includes processing, aggregation and distribution of food at the local level. In the past, it's funded $400 million worth of construction and equipment purchasing projects for food producers and processing facilities across the country.