![photo](vineyards.jpg)
Vineyards
in the San Joaquin Valley
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Fresno
CB Facilitates Agricultural Cooperative for New Farmers
Community Builder
Toulu Thao has worked with a number of entities to facilitate partnerships
resulting in a cooperative for farmers in the San Joaquin Valley.
The most productive farming region in the world, the Valley is home
to over 60,000 Hmong immigrants from Southeast Asia. Unlike age-old
Asian manual farming practices, American farming techniques are
increasingly sophisticated and technology driven.
Toulu, who had
over 10 years of farming experience when he joined HUD, has helped
the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) work with Pacific Gas and
Electric, State Farm Insurance, Oxfam Foundation, and California
State Poly-Technical University in San Luis Obispo to create a farming
cooperative that is a one-stop shop providing opportunities for
new and emerging farmers.
By helping these
entities work together on this cooperative, the Fresno Community
Builders are facilitating jobs and economic growth opportunities
in a community very much in need. Although the Valley is a fertile
agricultural area, it is home to some of the most impoverished communities
in California. The increased economic opportunities available through
these partnerships help empower these communities.
The cooperative
will provide farmers with mentoring from graduate students at the
University, hands-on experience in planting, exposure to cutting
edge pest control and farming techniques, and help with marketing
their crops. Grants from Oxfam supported the marketing development
project for the cooperative. Additional grants from The California
Endowment will support agri-chemical training and safe handling
of pesticides. The USDA Risk Management Agency will provide funding
to purchase equipment including tractors, plows, diskers, and furrow
makers. Technical support for training is provided by the University
of California Cooperative Extension. The marketing support for the
cooperative will be provided by Sarabian Farms.
The cooperative
is located in a trailer on 20 acres of land. Five acres are being
used for farming demonstration projects, and the remaining 15 will
be leased for 2-3 farmers who will participate in a farming incubation
project on-site, and 3-5 farmers will be off site. The incubation
project will last for 2-3 years. Once they have graduated from the
incubation project, the farmers will be able to farm independently
and successfully. The cooperative has also arranged for the farmers
to visit other farms across California, and complete classroom training
in soil science, accounting and bookeeping, marketing and risk management.
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