Socorro Farmers Market preparing for season as lawmakers advance bill to expand Double Up Food Bucks

As the Socorro Farmers Market readies its return to the Plaza in May, state lawmakers are moving forward with a proposal that could significantly expand how low‑income families use Double Up Food Bucks, a change local vendors say would strengthen both food access and small‑scale agriculture.

House Bill 114, sponsored by Reps. Rebecca Dow, Tara Lujan, Rex Wilson, Gail Armstrong and Sen. Pat Woods, would appropriate $1 million from the state’s general fund to New Mexico State University Board of Regents to enhance the Double Up Food Bucks program in fiscal year 2027. The bill directs the funding to “enhance the buying power of federal supplemental nutrition assistance program participants… for the purchase of meat, nuts, eggs and fresh fruits and vegetables at New Mexico farmers’ markets.”

The measure passed the House and is now headed to the Senate for consideration.

Double Up Food Bucks has long allowed SNAP users to double their purchasing power for fresh fruits and vegetables at participating markets. HB 114 would broaden that list to include meat, eggs and nuts, a shift Dow said is aimed at improving food security and supporting local producers.

“We had some really great stuff happen around food security,” Dow said in an interview regarding the 2026 legislative session. “The food banks are getting more money. We added meat, eggs, and nuts to the farmers market, to what you can use your double up bucks for.”

Dow said she and Rep. Gail Armstrong split leadership on key food‑related legislation this year, with Armstrong focusing on medical malpractice reforms and Dow taking the lead on food access and agricultural development.

At the Socorro Farmers Market, Vice President Pam McGoarty said the change would be meaningful for both customers and growers.

McGoarty confirmed that the market currently accepts Double Up Food Bucks only for fruits and vegetables, but vendors are preparing for the expanded list once the legislation is finalized.

The market, which operates at the Teen Center during the winter, hosts about 20 vendors offering baked goods, produce, coffee and locally made foods. Winter hours run 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, with live music and small café setups that make the market a weekend gathering spot.

The market plans to move back to the Plaza in May.

Supporters of HB 114 say expanding eligible foods will help families stretch their budgets while keeping dollars circulating in rural communities. The bill’s appropriation would flow through NMSU, which administers statewide nutrition and agricultural programs.

For growers in Socorro County, many of whom sell eggs, meat, and nuts, the expansion could open new revenue streams and encourage more residents to shop locally.

McGoarty said the market has grown steadily since restarting after the pandemic and continues to add themed events, holiday markets, and community activities. “Once a month, we do some special things,” she said, noting that updates are posted on the market’s Facebook and Instagram pages and on the marquee at First State Bank on California Street.

Residents interested in selling at the market can contact McGoarty at (703) 470-8424 or reach the market directly at farm2plaza@gmail.com. The market accepts new vendor inquiries year-round.

If HB 114 clears the Senate and is signed into law, the expanded Double Up Food Bucks options could take effect in fiscal year 2027, pending program implementation by NMSU and the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association.

For now, Socorro vendors are preparing for a busy spring season and watching closely as lawmakers debate a bill that could reshape how families shop at their local market.