Summer Food Service Program / SUN Meals · New Mexico
New Mexico SFSP and SUN Meals — State Agency, Sponsor Requirements, and Summer Meal Rules
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), branded federally as SUN Meals, provides free meals to children age 18 and under when school is out for the summer. In New Mexico, SFSP is administered by New Mexico Public Education Department, Student Nutrition Bureau. Below is the state agency contact, how to apply as a sponsor or site, and the federal meal pattern rules that apply at every New Mexico summer meal site.
New Mexico SFSP State Agency
- Agency
- New Mexico Public Education Department
- Division
- Student Nutrition Bureau
- Phone
- (505) 827-1821
- Official SFSP page
- https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/bureaus/student-transportation/student-success-wellness/nutrition/
- FNS Region
- Southwest Regional Office — USDA FNS Southwest
Who Can Sponsor SFSP in New Mexico
The following organizations may apply to PED to become an SFSP sponsor in New Mexico:
- Public or private nonprofit school food authorities running summer meals at New Mexico school sites.
- Units of local, municipal, county, or tribal government including parks, recreation departments, and libraries.
- Private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community-based groups, meeting SFSP financial and administrative standards.
- Residential and non-residential summer camps serving children from areas with at least 50% free and reduced-price eligibility.
- Public or private nonprofit universities and colleges running upward bound or similar programs.
Site Eligibility for New Mexico Summer Meal Sites
Most SFSP sites in New Mexico qualify as open sites in areas where at least 50% of children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. New Mexico sponsors can also operate:
- Closed enrolled sites serving a defined group of enrolled children when at least half of them would qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
- Migrant sites primarily serving children of migrant workers.
- Camp sites that claim only the children from eligible households attending.
- Non-congregate rural sites allowed under permanent USDA rule for New Mexico communities that meet the rural non-congregate designation under 7 CFR 225.6.
How to Apply as a New Mexico SFSP Sponsor
- Contact PED early — most states, including New Mexico, begin sponsor outreach and training in late winter for the following summer.
- Complete the required sponsor training offered by PED. SFSP sponsor training covers meal patterns, recordkeeping, civil rights, and financial management.
- Submit the sponsor application, management plan, and budget to PED through the state agency's portal.
- Identify New Mexico site locations and document their eligibility (open, closed enrolled, camp, migrant, or rural non-congregate).
- Receive state agency approval and enter into a Permanent Agreement. Begin serving meals once the agreement and site approvals are in place.
SFSP Meal Pattern for New Mexico Summer Meal Sites
Unlike CACFP, SFSP uses a single meal pattern for all children ages 1 through 18 (7 CFR 225.16). Sites in New Mexico must include the following components per meal:
| Meal | Required components |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | 1 cup milk · 1/2 cup vegetable, fruit, or full-strength juice · 1 serving of grains or bread · optional meat/meat alternate |
| Lunch or Supper | 1 cup milk · 2 oz meat/meat alternate · 3/4 cup combined vegetables and fruits from two or more sources · 1 serving of grains or bread |
| Snack (2 of 4) | Choose 2 of: 1 cup milk, 1 oz meat/meat alternate, 3/4 cup vegetable/fruit/juice, 1 serving grains or bread |
Source: 7 CFR 225.16 and USDA FNS SFSP meal pattern chart. Sponsors in New Mexico may also serve meals that meet the NSLP or CACFP patterns at their option.
Need year-round meals in New Mexico?
SFSP only runs while school is out. For year-round child care, Head Start, afterschool, and adult day care meals in New Mexico, see the New Mexico CACFP state page.
Plan audit-ready SFSP menus for your New Mexico summer sites
CrEATe lets you build SFSP-compliant summer meal menus in minutes, validate meal pattern requirements, and export production records and daily meal counts ready for your New Mexico state agency review.