Flourishing Farm, Flourishing Community

FULL STORY

My name is Vang Thao, and I am a family farmer in Wisconsin. My husband and I have been farming together for the past 10 years. We started JL Produce with a simple goal: to provide financial support for our family, especially our daughters, Julie and Lily. What began as a small business at the farmer’s market has grown into a venture that feeds our local community and beyond. This expansion and success have been made possible, in large part, due to the Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance (WI-LFPA) program.

Initially, we supplied fresh produce to local Asian stores in the Milwaukee area. In 2018, we began participating in farmers' markets, which has been an incredibly rewarding experience. However, it was through the LFPA program that we truly discovered the full potential of our farming business. The program has allowed us to purchase better equipment, which has significantly eased our farming processes and improved our efficiency. This, in turn, has increased our ability to provide the freshest and healthiest produce, such as potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, bell peppers, cabbage, and beets, to our community.

The WI-LFPA program has not only provided us with financial stability but also with invaluable knowledge and skills that have made us better farmers. It has opened our eyes to new opportunities and levels of farming that we had not previously considered.

By reducing the number of farmers' markets we participate in from four to two, we have been able to focus more on quality and innovation, ensuring that our produce reaches those who need it the most, including those who may not have access to farmers' markets.

This program is significant for family farmers like us. It supports our livelihood, helps us improve our farming practices, and ensures that we can continue to provide our community with nutritious, locally-grown produce. The LFPA program has been a cornerstone of our success.

DATCP is working collaboratively with producers, distributors, food security organizations, and Tribal partners to provide program development, coordinate transportation and logistics, and procure food from local producers through partnership with Marbleseed, Wisconsin Farmers Union, and Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative. For more information about the WI LFPA program, visit wilocalfood.org.