New Ag Center Welcomes New Farmers
August 27, 2024
We are excited to welcome our first Latino-run cooperative in our Farms for the Future Initiative program. Miguel Flores, Juan Antonio Zúñiga, and Alci Mejía bring a rich agricultural heritage from their childhoods in El Salvador, where they cultivated crops such as beans, corn, and coffee.
Back in 2020 Miguel and Juan were members of the Rural & Migrant MinistryLeadership Program where they meet Maria del Mar Piedra Buena who helped them form the Long Island Farm Workers Cooperative. Through this leadership program they were able to receive their first grant as a cooperative. Alci joined the group about two years later.
The cooperative pursued online courses through the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County to explore opportunities for establishing their own farm. Their journey led them to join the Cornell Small Farm Program, where they were part of the project Futuro en Ag and connected with the projects team: Mildred Alvarado and María José Oviedo Ventura. Mildred and Maria in turn reached out to the Peconic Land Trust’s Agriculture team, Dan Heston and Jackie Wilson, to see what opportunities might be available through our Farms for the Future Initiative.This outreach paved the way for them to start farming at the incubator fields at Charnews Farm,part of the Trust's Agricultural Center in Southold.
While many consider farming a full-time commitment, this group proves otherwise! Miguel, Juan, and Alci each maintain full-time jobs and dedicate their evenings and weekends to the farm. They are currently harvesting around 2 acres at Charnews Farm, cultivating a diverse range of crops, including peppers, tomatoes, corn, and flowers.Their harvest is being distributed to local food establishments on the North Fork with plans to eventually launch a CSA program in future. We look forward to seeing the incredible work they will accomplish over the next five year in the program!