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Latino Immigrant Farmworkers Transition to Organic Farming Futures (LIFT-OFF)

Nathan Harkleroad

Summary

Founded in 2001, the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) is a non-profit organization based in Salinas, California, the 'salad bowl of America'. The LIFT-OFF project is in its second year of implementation with a goal to lower the barriers to farm business initiation for limited-resource, socially disadvantaged farmers through a comprehensive farm incubation program. The project leverages ALBA’s experienced bilingual staff, a proven consortium of farm service providers, and a 100-acre organic farm training facility.

LIFT-OFF will strengthen the viability of 75 organic farm enterprises, which will be operational at the end of the project in 2022. Over 80% of these farms will be owned and operated by Latino farmers, most of whom come to ALBA seeking an alternative to low-paid seasonal fieldwork. Project objectives focus on successive phases of a 10- year farm development pathway.

ALBA is unique for the depth and range of services provided for its primarily farmworker participants. These include multi-year, bilingual education, subsidized access to organic land and farm equipment, and hands-on technical assistance in farm production, crop planning, conservation practices, and regulatory compliance. Partners fill in the gaps with access to capital and land-matching; one-on-one business coaching; and produce marketing.

Details

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