Why do Hmong farmers need their own organization?

Our communities of partners — like you — know that we are all lifted higher when those most affected by an unfair food system lead the change we seek.

Many farmers who are not Hmong often ask us if they can join HAFA or if there is a comparable organization in their own ethnic communities. But sometimes we have also been asked why there needs to be an organization just for Hmong farmers. We have been asked why is it so hard for Hmong farmers to learn English, to access new markets, or farm organically. We have even been told that some Hmong farmers don’t know how to operate a calculator, how can they possibly run their own businesses?

In these times of greater awareness around racial injustice and economic inequality, we welcome sincere questions and authentic dialogues around the challenges and the opportunities facing small farmers. But we also demand that people put mirrors to their own lives and seek more than surface answers to big questions. Could you move to China and order lunch in Mandarin? Or learn to operate a sextant? (Do you even know what a sextant is?) Often times, when we try to put ourselves in other people’s shoes, we learn about their plight, but more often, we learn about our privilege.

At HAFA we believe that even the least among us have wisdom to share. We believe that those with the greatest ideas are the ones who are most affected by the problems. We believe that the best people to help Hmong farmers are Hmong farmers themselves. So we will always fight for authentic representation and leadership because that is the surest way to create positive change.

And we want to thank you for your support this past growing season. Over 100 of you volunteered with us, another 1,100 visited the HAFA Farm, and thousands more purchased our vegetables and helped us build community wealth.  We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you.