Beckstrom, Maja. “Hmong Farmers Work to Get Twin Cities-Area Produce in Stores, Schools.” St. Paul Pioneer Press. Twincities.com. 2 Oct. 2015. Web. 2 Oct. 2015. http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_28913659/hmong-farmers-work-get-local-produce-stores-schools?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook
This article explains how the Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA), a local nonprofit organization founded by Twin Cities resident Pakou Hang, helps Hmong farmers sell produce to a wider variety of customers instead of relying solely on income generated from farmers’ markets. HAFA has arranged for Hmong farmers to “sell leeks to Lunds & Byerlys, sweet potatoes to Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-ops in St. Paul, and broccoli to public schools in Hopkins” as well as other produce to Lancer Catering, South Washington County Schools, and Ramsey and Washington County Head Start programs (Beckstrom). HAFA also provides its farmers with access to loans and grants for purchasing equipment.
In 2014, an anonymous investor purchased 155 acres of land in Dakota County and agreed to lease it to HAFA for 10 years. After making improvements that included adding irrigation, HAFA rented portions of the land to Hmong farmers, giving them a place to grow, harvest, clean, and prepare their produce for market. According to Teng Thao, a HAFA farmer interviewed for the article, the leased land allows farmers not only to grow produce in larger quantities but also to get it to consumers more efficiently.
To work with HAFA, farmers must farm at least three acres of land, have liability insurance, sell at farmers’ markets, and demonstrate three years of experience farming.
So far, the program has been a success, helping Hmong farmers earn more for their produce than they make selling at farmers’ markets alone. It has also benefited those who purchase produce. More and more consumers want to know where their food comes from and how it was grown; HAFA farmers offer consumers the peace of mind that comes with having that knowledge.
HAFA hopes to expand its program in the future but hasn’t yet offered specifics as to when or how.
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