Illustration by Surendra Dara

UC ANR celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May with virtual discussions of Asian Americans in agriculture. To view recordings of the webinars, visit the Learning and Development diversity website.

On May 25, Kristyn Leach, a Korean American farmer in Yolo County, shared her personal story of activism for food and environmental justice, as well as her passion for nurturing connections between Asian American communities and the unique crops and foodways that are deeply rooted in their heritage.

Leach also discussed Second Generation Seeds, a collective of Asian American growers dedicated to offering heirloom seeds and resources that help communities of the Asian diaspora reclaim and revitalize their diverse food cultures. 

On May 31, UC Cooperative Extension small farms advisors Ruth Dahlquist-Willard, Margaret Lloyd, Aparna Gazula and Hung Doan discussed how they help Asian American small farmers overcome language barriers.

The small farms team serving Asian American farmers includes:

• Margaret Lloyd, Pang Kue and Fam Fin Lee, Capitol Corridor
• Vong Moua, Stanislaus County
• Ruth Dahlquist-Willard, Michael Yang and Lilian Thaoxaochay, Fresno County
• Aparna Gazula, Xuewen Feng and Qi Zhou, Santa Clara County
• Hung Doan, Riverside County

They serve Hmong, Mien, Chinese and Korean American farmers in California. When the pandemic struck, the small farms team helped Asian American farmers quickly comply with COVID-19 policies and adapt to new market conditions.

They are currently assisting Asian American farmers to adapt to climate change, access grants and other resources, and identify more ways to remain competitive and sustainable. The researchers also educate policymakers about issues affecting Asian American farmers to shape policy that is more practical.