Who Are the Growers?
Minnesota is home to many specialty crop growers.
Some have lived here their whole lives. Others moved here from different countries. They all use Minnesota’s natural resources to grow plants.
Minnesota has healthy soil, clean water, and the right climate for many plants to grow well. Farmers also learn how to care for the land so they can grow food for many years. Let’s meet some specialty crop growers!
Hmong American Farmers Association Farm, Vermillion Township
The HAFA Farm is part farm and part school. Its members are Hmong immigrants from Laos and Thailand. At HAFA, farmers grow more than 160 kinds of fruits and vegetables. Their top crops are potatoes, carrots, and ground cherries. They also grow crops such as bitter melon, bok choy, and Thai chili peppers. Farmers at HAFA learn ways to care for the land so it can grow crops for many years.
Dream of Wild Health Farm, Hugo
Dream of Wild Health helps Native American families and communities in Minnesota. On their farm near Hugo, Minnesota, they grow Indigenous foods like corn, beans, and squash. These plants are called the Three Sisters. They grow well together and help each other. Corn gives the beans a place to climb. Beans help the soil. Squash leaves shade the ground and help the soil stay cool and moist.
Brand Farms, Farmington
Aaron Brand and his family grow 12 kinds of apples at Brand Farms near Farmington, Minnesota. Weather is very important for growing apples. Aaron watches the temperature and rainfall to know when the apples are ready to pick. When the apples are ripe, workers pick them by hand. Then the apples are washed, dried, sorted, packed, and delivered to stores and schools across Minnesota.
Better Greens, Monticello
Funwi Vitalis Tita and Baichim Jenet Tita grew up in Cameroon, a country in Africa. After moving to Minnesota, they missed the vegetables they ate in Africa. So they started growing special leafy vegetables near Monticello, Minnesota. They grow bitter greens, amaranth, njamajama, and sweet potato greens. Today, Better Greens sells African vegetables to grocery stores and schools in Minnesota. Their vegetables help people feel connected to their culture and try new foods.
Farmers use resources to grow specialty crops.
What resources did you read about? Why can’t farmers grow an unlimited amount of every crop?