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INVESTIGATOR: Moua, M.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
Hmong American Partnership
1075 Arcade Street
Saint Paul, MINNESOTA 55106

SUSTAINABLE FARMS FOR URBAN MARKETS

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: HAP is requesting support toexpand our Sustainable Farms for Urban Markets (SFUM) Program. HAP's collaborative partners on this project areFarmers Legal Action Group, Inc. and Saint Paul Area Council of Churches. TheTwin Citiesis home to the largest urban concentration of Hmong in the United States. HAP serves over 7,000 clients annually through a comprehensive range of services within five departments: Education and Training; Employment Services; Health and Wellness; Economic and Community Development; and Children and Family Services.HAP has developed a number of programs to encourage agricultural entrepreneurship within these communities, including the successful Sustainable Economic and Environmental Development Southeast Asian Farmer Entrepreneurship (SEED) Program and Project SAFE, a program focused on risk management. AP has a successful history of national advocacy for Hmong farmers and received a 2001 award from the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for contributions to advancing and supporting American agriculture.The primary goal of SFUM Program aligns with USDA-NIFA's BFRDP's goals because SFUM has a mission to enhance food security and community development by providing beginning farmers and their families with the education and resources needed to make informed decisions to enhance their farming success and sustainability. The program seeks to build economic prosperity of farm businesses for New Americans, Immigrants and Refugee farmers in the greater Minneapolis/Saint Paul metropolitan area, by achieving the following goals: Goal 1: Increase the number of immigrant and refugee beginning farmers in the greater Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area by engaging Southeast Asian farmers in culturally relevant farm educational opportunities; Goal 2. Enhance the long-term sustainability and success of Southeast Asian immigrant and refugee beginning farmers by building a community of farmer entrepreneurs; Goal 3. Improve the ability of Southeast Asian immigrant and refugee beginning farmers to provide for the food needs of the community by linking farmers with additional markets and resources for their farm businesses.HAP anticipates to service 50 farmers through a cohort-learning model that will help them to expand their businesses and market differentiation while promoting value-added products, and 500 farmer participants through its monthly educational workshops and field visits.

OBJECTIVES: Long-term Goals & Objectives: The primary goal of the Sustainable Farms for Urban Markets (SFUM) Program is to enhance food security and community development by providing beginning farmers and their families with the education and resources needed to make informed decisions to enhance their farming success and sustainability. The program seeks to build economic prosperity of farm businesses for New Americans, Immigrants and Refugee farmers in the greater Minneapolis/Saint Paul metropolitan area