Farming is in our DNA
In 2011, a group of Hmong American farming families formed the Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA) because we believed the best people to support Hmong farmers are Hmong farmers themselves and that we are all lifted up when those who are affected by an unfair food system lead the change we seek.
We formed with the mission to advance the prosperity of Hmong American farmers through cooperative endeavors, capacity building and advocacy.
HAFA Blog
- Finding Peace on the Farm: A HAFA Farmer’s Reflection on Growing Up FarmingIt is hard to say exactly how many years I have been farming because farming isn’t measured in years but in memories. For as long as I can remember, my summers were spent pushing the seeding machine through rows of soil, planting trays and trays of transplants, weeding never-ending rows of seedlings, sitting on 5-gallon pail buckets picking cucumbers and beans, and selling vegetables at the farmers’ market. I was always jealous of my other friends, classmates, and cousins who spent their days at camps, fishing, traveling, and watching TV all summer. When I was young, farming was the last… Read more: Finding Peace on the Farm: A HAFA Farmer’s Reflection on Growing Up Farming
Latest News
Winter squash is one of fall's great gifts. Its long storage life has made squash an important seasonal food across many cultures, and its versatility means it can become everything from soups and curries to roasted sides and holiday dishes. When you cook with seasonal produce, you're participating in the rhythm of the growing season—and supporting the farmers who make that abundance possible.![]()
![]()
What's your favorite way to prepare winter squash?![]()
![]()
#HAFA #eatseasonal #wintersquash #localfood #minnesotagrown ![]()
![]()
Photo credit: Mike Hazard
Every farm season leaves behind more than a harvest. It leaves lessons.![]()
![]()
Farmers adapt constantly—to weather, crop conditions, markets, timing, and the unexpected. That knowledge grows season after season and is shared across families and communities. As the growing season winds down, we celebrate the experience, resilience, and agricultural knowledge HAFA farmers carry into whatever comes next.![]()
![]()
#HAFA #hmongfarmers #farmerstories #minnesotaagriculture #supportlocalfarmers![]()
![]()
Photo credit: Mike Hazard
November invites us to reflect on what the growing season has made possible. Fields have been planted and harvested. CSA boxes have been packed. Farmers' markets have brought neighbors together. Meals have been shared.![]()
![]()
Behind each of those moments are farmers, families, partners, customers, volunteers, and supporters who believe in the value of local agriculture.![]()
![]()
As we enter a season of gratitude, thank you for being part of HAFA's community.![]()
![]()
#HAFA #gratitude #hmongfarmers #communityagriculture #supportlocalfarmers![]()
![]()
Photo credit: Mike Hazard
We are dedicated to advancing the prosperity of Hmong farmers through cooperative endeavors, capacity building and advocacy. HAFA was started and is led by family farmers. Organizing is in our DNA.