Joe Jaramillo, an Iselta Pueblo member, who grows corn and chili peppers is an example of a successful New Mexican Native farmer. Like so many others of his generation, Joe’s family depended on the food they produced when he was growing up.  About ten years ago, Joe decided to turn his passion into a small commercial enterprise and officially started Native Naturals in 2006.

Joe will talk about native traditions in agriculture in the South West.  The importance of small-scale agriculture and what it takes to be able to produce crops in these extreme conditions of New Mexico.  He will address the importance of seed saving and his work in marketing heirloom varieties of drought tolerant crops. Contributing to food production, like Joe, with the growing of blue corn, chile and beans is a task that more of us have to embrace and learn..  His work with the nativefoodnetwork.com has put him in the forefront of promoting, marketing and sharing highly nutritious food with the world.