We gathered together at the HAFA farmhouse on Monday, October 19th to reflect on the waning season. It was also the annual land lottery where farmers could to choose to stay on their 5 acre plot or switch to another plot on the HAFA Farm.
Mai Moua has been farming in Minnesota since 2005 and grows dozens of varieties of vegetables and flowers. She sells them at farmers markets in New Hope, Bloomington and Eagan. She also sells to the HAFA Food Hub for our CSA and institutional contracts.
She was surprised and proud that so many people had come to visit the HAFA Farm this year.
“Before September, we passed out many fliers about the Open House and people would say, ‘Oh you’re part of HAFA, that’s great!’ We are so proud to be a part of something that so many people have heard about.”
“Now we can actually say that we have a farm. If people ask us ‘where is your farm,’ we can finally say it’s on Highway 52 near the Vermillion River.”
“After people visit the HAFA Farm, I hope they think better of Hmong farmers. I hope they think that we are good farmers. That we are neat and clean and hard working.”
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.