Noticiero Latino: Ecological and organic farmers

Independent farmers run organic and sustainable businesses in California’s Central Valley, and although the past year has been complicated, these small agricultural organizations continue to fly against the tide of large industries, thanks to the support and training of the oldest agricultural incubator organization in the Agriculture and Agricultural Training Association (ALBA).

Rigoberto Bucio, owner-operator of Bucio Organic Farms, in Salinas California, grows strawberries, cabbage, cauliflower, celery and comments on how he was supported to get ahead and become an entrepreneur and how he changed his vision by applying more earth-friendly practices.

Another case is that of Martin Aviña, president of Aviña Organic Farms, in Aromas CA, who talks about how ALBA has helped him to start the process of organic farming.

Rigoberto Bucio talks about the challenges he faced in applying the tools he learned at ALBA and recognizes that the main challenge is to stay organic since there are practices of other farmers and the industry that continue to affect the environment.

He even said that they feel like little fish in the sea, because after this training the market is powerful and not organic.

Martin Aviña tells us how he has managed to adopt organic practices versus traditional methods.

Rigoberto Bucio, explains how much they have managed to take care of the land with traditional practices and also mentions that a big challenge they face is the lack of economic resources.

Martin Aviña agrees that these types of organizations like ALBA allow their businesses to be economically sustainable.

It should be noted that ALBA’s ecological agriculture incubation program supports workers, mainly low-income workers in the Salinas Valley, with scholarships, training and teaching sustainable, resilient and earth-friendly agri-food systems.

Patricia Carrillo, executive director of the Agriculture and Agrarian Training Association-ALBA, recognizes that financing is one of the most complicated issues facing small businesses.

This report is part of the series “Cuando se seca el arroyo” supported in part by The Walton Family Foundation.