Abstract

The New Farmer Development Project provides immigrants living in New York City with agricultural skills and resources to help them create viable small farm enterprises in the tri-state region.

Issue

During the last two decades, there has been a tremendous decline in the number of small farms in the tri-state region (including New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania). Concerns over the decreased access and availability of locally-grown healthy food, the loss of farming as a livelihood, and the conversion of open space to suburban sprawl.

At the same time, there are a number of opportunities including increasing the number of immigrants to the region who possess the skills and desire to farm, a greater awareness among the general population about the need for healthier food choices, and a growth in the demand for specialty vegetable crops.

Response

In response to the issues noted above, the Urban Food System Program of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in New York City has teamed with the Greenmarket Program of the Council on the Environment of New York City to develop and implement an immigrant farmer-training program. The goal of the New Farmer Development Program (NFDP) is to assist socially disadvantaged and limited-resource immigrants in the New York City area in establishing their own small farm enterprises. The training program, called La Nueva Siembra or The New Planting, builds upon the already existing knowledge base of the participants to provide them with perspectives unique to farming in the Northeastern United States. The NFDP uses a diverse training model, which includes in-class lectures and presentations about relevant issues as well as hands-on learning experiences at demonstration farms in the field. Some of the skills learned in the field include practicing land preparation and production techniques. While in the classroom, participants learn about an array of issues including production methods and business planning.

This training also includes field trips with thematic learning objectives as well as the the creation of mentorship relationships between prospective and current farmers adding another educational approach. This provides a means for NFDP participants to learn from their peers. NFDP staff also help prospective farmers identify land to lease where they can begin a first attempt at farming.

Impact

The New Farmer Development Program (NFDP) has made significant strides in recruiting and training participants as well as creating demonstration sites and facilitating the farming activities of program participants. More than 130 people have participated in the NFDP through training, production, and marketing opportunities since its inception in 2000. With the assistance of funding from the USDA Risk Management Agency, we refined our La Nueva Siembra training series. During 2004, two 10-week long LNS courses were conducted during the spring and fall training 30 or more people. The NFDP has matched more than fifteen participants with local farmers who serve as mentors and provide valuable hands-on experience in markets or on farms. At NFDP training farms, where participants acquire production and marketing experience, fifteen participants are cooperatively farming and marketing their produce. The NFDP has facilitated the establishment of four independent farms by Latino farmers. They grow specialty crops such as herbs, vegetables, small fruits, traditional ethnic products, and pastured poultry. These farmers are not only successful as individuals but serve as role models for future farmers. This year we expect more than twenty NFDP participants to sell their produce to nearly twenty farmers markets. Many of these markets are located in immigrant neighborhoods, where NFDP farmers sell culturally appropriate produce to members of their community.

Funding Sources

• Other USDA (e.g., Water Quality, Special Grants, NRI)

Collaborators

• Greenmarket Program, Council on the Environment of New York City;
• USDA Risk Management Agency;
• Heifer Project International;
• Small Farm Program - Cornell University;
• New York Farm Viability Institute - Agriculture Innovation Center
• Northeast Network of Immigrant Farming Projects
• National Immigrant Farming Initiative

Key Personnel

• Michael J. Simsik, PI (for Cornell), Leader, Urban Food Systems Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension, New York
• John Ameroso, Extension Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension, New York
• Linda Ameroso, Extension Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension, New York
• Kate Granger, PI (for Greenmarket), NFDP Director, Greenmarket Program, Council on the Environment of NYC
• Maria Alvarez, Greenmarket Program, Council on the Environment of NYC
• Michelle Hughes, Greenmarket Program, Council on the Environment of NYC