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Photo: Taos Food Center making tamales
Making progress in sustainability: a few companies New Mexico Rural Efficient Business Program has worked with to address efficiency improvements.
Syzygy Tile - Silver City, NM
pop. 9,529
Located in a mining area noted for silver, gold, copper, lead, and zinc, Silver City was founded in 1876 as Silver City and was a boomtown during the 1880s.
New Mexico State University’s College of Engineering staff and students prepared a pollution prevention and energy efficiency assessment for Syzygy Tile in Silver City, NM. NMSU offers these services through the Engineering New Mexico Resource Network as a no-cost onsite assessment for businesses. Josh White, owner of Syzygy Tile, discussed his operation: “We’ve implemented several of their recommendations that have led to a reduction in our utility bills and helped us improve our waste management streams. I was surprised to learn about a couple of recycling opportunities that were available that we didn’t know about. It always feels good to recycle and we’ve been able to make sure even less of our waste ends up in a landfill.” He said, “Everyone was very professional, and it required less time and effort than I had anticipated. I would definitely encourage other small businesses to reach out to NMSU to get their help. Not doing so is leaving money on the table.”
Navajo Spirit - Gallup, NM
pop. 21,929
A headquarters for the southern transcontinental rail route founded in 1881, Gallup is perhaps best known for its many iconic trading posts. Scattered all over the city, they offer curated selections of Native American jewelry, rugs, kachinas, pottery, baskets, and more.
The numbers are in! In fiscal year 2019, New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) clients created and retained 919 jobs in communities throughout the state. Jobs like those at Navajo Spirit where Native American inspired clothing and craft items are made. Today, eighty percent of revenue is generated from its retail shop in historic downtown Gallup, where eight employees cut and sew garments designed by artist Virginia Yazzie Ballenger. One popular product is the Native American graduation gown, which the company makes from Pendleton blankets. When blanket remnants began to accumulate, MEP guided owners and workers through Value Stream Mapping. The result was new and distinct products such as tablet covers, makeup bags and golf club covers. These employee-inspired items are generating worker satisfaction and new revenue for the company. With MEP’s help, Navajo Spirit is also integrating technology and automation with processes that have served the company for almost four decades. “We are making huge strides,” said general manager Carl Ballenger. With new technology, Navajo Spirit has increased production 18 percent. Its renewed confidence has seen overall sales increase by 20 percent. “With the valuable assistance of MEP staff, we have been led to our future with new life, prepared for growth,” Ballenger said.
Taos Food Center - Taos, NM
pop. 5,971
Taos Pueblo, a World Heritage Site, has been inhabited for over a thousand years. Long one of America's foremost bona fide Art Colonies, Taos village is home to a world-class ski resort and one of the most photographed and iconic churches.
“We work with different sectors and different size businesses across the state—from small mom and pop businesses to ones that have up to 500 employees,” said research scientist Jalal Rastegary, an Engineering Extension specialist who runs the Pollution Prevention and Energy Efficiency program at NMSU. “Recently we had the opportunity to work with the Taos County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC) - Taos Food Center.” Pati Martinson, executive director of the TCEDC Food Center, explained, “From the assessment, we realized by replacing our fluorescent bulbs with LED lights, our annual cost of electricity would be reduced from $4200 to $1370. This will result in savings of $2830 annually from that recommendation alone. TCEDC was impressed with the thorough and helpful service provided by NMSU's College of Engineering in evaluating our Food Center. As a community-based non-profit, we highly value such partnerships,” Martinson said. Based on assessments, NMSU engineering staff provides recommendations for pollution prevention and energy efficiency measures that businesses can implement immediately. The staff also assists management in understanding how to utilize what’s within their business operations and how to gain efficiencies and cost savings.
Jack’s Plastic Welding - Aztec, NM
pop. 6,442
By 1890, the Aztec Town Company was formed and needed to divide 40 acres of land for laying out a town.
MEP’s lean manufacturing workshop applies to any industry or position. Successful companies such as Jack's Plastic Welding in Aztec have incorporated this training into their employee on-boarding process because it supports continuous improvement. Founded in 1982 and located in Aztec, NM, Jack’s Plastic Welding produces inflatable boats, dry bags, and waterproof self-inflating mattresses. Over the years, the company has expanded, concentrating on developing prototypes for products customized for a variety of markets, from amusement rides and scuba diving to emergency spill containers and medical gear. With custom orders becoming more frequent and time consuming, CEO Errol Baade and Designer and Vice President Jack Kloepfer wanted to create a more organized, efficient, and safe workplace. “Working with New Mexico MEP brings ownership of business to the workers. Having them work with my crew to implement ideas that they already have is bringing more brainpower into the system,” said Jack Kloepfer, Designer and Vice President. The New Mexico MEP team worked with the business’s employees utilizing a system known as 5S. This system consists of five concepts that start with the letter s: sort, set-in-order, shine, standardize, and sustain. The objectives of 5S are to improve work quality, efficiency, and safety of industrial processes by reducing waste and bolstering value-added activities. As a result of New Mexico MEP’s assistance, Jack’s Plastic Welding has diversified its product lines and now offers more alternatives with respect to custom orders.
Sage Coyote Farm - Tierra Amarilla, NM
pop. 1,216
This community near Carson National Forest has a name that refers to the yellow clay deposits found in the Chama River Valley. The area served as a trade route for peoples in the present-day Four Corners region and the Rio Grande Valley.
NMEDD had the pleasure and honor of visiting Sage Coyote Farm in Tierra Amarilla to meet with the owners, Conlan and Gayle (and their many animals). What gorgeous country and views! The farm specializes in Red Devon cattle and Tibetan yaks, which are historically bred to be finished on grass, unlike many of the typical breeds found in the US. Cattle tend to consume grain, which often results in meat that is tough and not properly marbled for flavor. Their animals graze on high-altitude, dry land native grasses which results in happy, healthy and stress-free lives and translates to a better tasting meat. They also produce pastured pork, garlic, snow peas, winter squash, potatoes, pastured chicken eggs, sold at the Santa Fe Farmer's market. NMEDD made the trip to help Sage Coyote Farm determine if solar panels make sense on their ranch.
Growing Opportunities - Alcade, NM
pop. 285
Alcade is also home to the 148-acre Los Luceros ranch located north of Española along the Rio Grande. The cultural site is one of New Mexico’s most scenic and historically significant properties.
Growing Opportunities has been vending at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market since 2000. They use hydroponics and are pesticide-free. Kim and Steve have been growing hydroponic tomatoes and cucumbers on their 7.5 acre farm in Alcalde, NM since 1999. Prior to that, Steve had been a truck driver and worked on a dairy farm. He loved farming and wanted to stay in the industry, while making a good living and not having to deal with animals. After extensive research, he settled on hydroponics because it uses 1/10th of the water for 10x the produce of soil-grown crops. Growing Opportunities’ spread of greenhouses covers about 1/4 of an acre and produces 130,000 lbs of produce. Rows and rows of carefully manicured tomatoes and cucumbers fill the greenhouses. They have to be harvested and pruned everyday because this style of growing is so fast and prolific. To stay ahead, they employ two part-time and five full-time employees. If you eat a tomato purchased in winter, it is most likely grown on this unassuming property tucked in next to the Rio Grande river. While Kim is the face of the operation, faithfully selling at the Market every Saturday, Steve loves to stay home and work with the plants. NMEDD is working with the farm to get them on solar!