Results from the 2002 Census of Agriculture show that immigrants are the
fastest growing demographic sector of U.S. farmers. While many other
segments of agriculture were declining, between 1997 and 2002, the
proportion of U.S. farms reporting “Spanish, Hispanic or Latino” principal
operators grew from 1.51 percent to 2.37 percent. In Washington, Spanish,
Hispanic and Latino principal operators now comprise 3.08 percent of
Washington farms, up from 2.4 percent in 1997.
Washington also has growing numbers of
Hmong farmers. Although none of these farms were counted in the last
Census of Agriculture, the WSU Small Farms Program has identified 99 Hmong
families farming in King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties. Increasing
numbers of Sumatran and Ethiopian farmers are also making Washington their
home.
Immigrant farmers live in diverse areas
of the state and produce a wide array of crops for sale in direct and
wholesale markets. While many immigrants are highly skilled in agriculture
and are passionate about farming, they often have limited access to basic
resources such as land, water, and farm financing. Finding ways to support
this new generation of aspiring farmers will be critical to preserving the
future vitality of Washington’s agriculture and rural communities.
--From
the Washington State University Small Farms Team Website, 2006
For more information on
Cultivating Success™ courses and other programs for immigrant farmers,
visit
http://smallfarms.wsu.edu/immigrant_farmers.php
