FarmLink Helps People of Color Become Successful Farmers

Over the past seven years, former farmworker Aldo Gonzalez has expanded his farm business from five to 44 acres, helped by annual operating loans from California FarmLink, an Aptosbased nonprofit that since 2013 has also operated as a Community Development Financial Institution.

Gonzales grew up on a family farm growing vegetables in Oaxaca, Mexico, and as a farmworker in the U.S. was determined to have his own business. Now, Gonzalez Organic Farms in Monterey County specializes in growing strawberries, which he sells at farmers’ markets in Cupertino, San Juan Bautista, Oakland and Sunnyvale, and is a valued grower for large strawberry shippers.

Gonzalez is just one of a growing number of Latino farmworkers who have become successful farmers in the U.S., said Reggie Knox, FarmLink’s executive director.

“The overall number of farms is going down, while the proportion of Latino farmers is going up,” Knox said. “We want to serve this community and see it as important for the future of farming in California.”

In fact, the USDA Agricultural Census found more than 14,000 registered Latino farmers and ranchers in California.

And Latino farmers are growing at twice the rate of traditional farmers.

As part of its commitment to encourage diversity in agriculture, Farm Credit has sponsored FarmLink and its annual Farm Finance Expo, held virtually in late 2020. Supporting Farm Credit institutions American Ag Credit, CoBank, Farm Credit West and Fresno Madera Farm Credit are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, the largest provider of credit to American agriculture.

Knox said the support of Farm Credit and other sponsors is essential to FarmLink’s success.

“The earned income we get from making loans is not enough to support Aldo Gonzalez at his farm in Monterey County

Photo Credit: California FarmLink

operations, so we supplement that with grants and sponsorships,” he said. “We appreciate the support from Farm Credit.”

Keith Hesterberg, president and CEO of Fresno Madera Farm Credit, noted that FarmLink has expanded its efforts in the Fresno area.

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