FARMER

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GRADUATES

Ana Reyes: I feel at peace

in nature. This environment soothes
people
As a child, Maria Ana grew beans, corn,
and squash in the city of Altamirano, in
the state of Guerrero, Mexico. Later she
came to California and worked at big
commercial farms. With some
companies, she was not paid. Maria first
heard about ALBA from a fellow parent
while she was volunteering in her sons
school. When I finally came to Albas
Farmer Education Program, I learned so
much! How to eat differently, how to
Misael Morales
plant without pesticides, how to harvest, When I wanted to go play ball, they would say,
move the boxes, move the product in Nopeyouve got things to do here first. Misael
the system. Even though she had learned a lot growing up on a farm. His mom
taught him to earn things by the sweat of his
worked for over two decades picking
brow. His grandfather, a farmer, taught him to
strawberries, Maria Ana finally felt like she was learning, and believing in herself
work the soil: If you water this peach, it will grow.
that she could accomplish great things. Now, she is planting her own two acres If you let it suffer, it will die and when you work
and selling the products to local produce distributors. with the soil, youve got to give it love and care,
and it will respond. Organic farming, for Misael,
is about not destroying the planet and not
losing ecological diversity. Its also about
Jose tradition and family values: When I picked
strawberries before coming to ALBA, my kids
Gallardo Its
didnt know what a strawberry plant was.
Misael hopes his kids will aim for careers in
beautiful. For me, organic agriculture, toomaybe agricultural engineering.
farming isnt about selling a But like qualities, kids can only be encouraged to
product. The best payment I grow. Anyway, he isnt sure how well his
receive is the smile I get from hometowns qualities would do in the field or on
a satisfied customer. I know the market locally. His vision is to apply the
that I am taking care of them. Jose grew up around agriculture, and his love for it principles of his grandfather to 30-50 acres,
comes directly from his grandfather. Jose would go to school three days a week, probably of celery and strawberries. Currently he
and then work on the farm three days a week to help support his ailing father, his is independently farming three acres in ALBA.
mother and his nine siblings. My grandfather always used to say, when you do
something, do it because you love it, not because you feel obligated. He took
that lesson to heart, and came to the United States at 17 years old, always looking
to learn something new and to find something that he could work at and love.
Graduating from the PEPA program with Alba in 2012 allowed him to see this
bigger picture and understand how to plan strategically for difficult situations. I
have to look for more opportunities to learn. In everything I try to learn from the
very beginning until the end. For now, Jose will continue to work hard, bringing a
friendly smile, open heart and inquiring mind to all of Gallardo Organic Farms

"created as part of the requirements for a writing assignment and not meant to be published nor to
represent the organization(s) listed herein"
 FARMER
SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION
PROGRAM
STORIES
GRADUATES
customers. He operates five acres and have gained success selling in farmers www.albafarmers.org
831.758.1469 P.O. Box 6264 Salinas, CA 93912
markets around the Bahia Area.

Each farmer brings a unique story upon

arrival, and forges a different path forward.
Sofia Colin La Pisga Organics
"Agriculture is in my blood", says Sofia, having grown up farming
tomatoes and chilies with her father in her native Mexico. However, she
nearly quit farming for good after getting a severe skin rash doing field
work with her husband. She left the fields for a teaching job and to raise
her kids.
It wasn't until her oldest returned from college that she heard about
organic agriculture. She missed the work and liked the idea of growing
food free of pesticides. After hearing about ALBA on TV in 2010, she
jumped at the chance. Sofia started growing her old favorites, also
experimenting with chard and beans and later ventured into
strawberries, leeks and zucchini. Although she had no prior business
experience, she proved a quick learner and has since gained a
reputation for
her business
savvy. Today La
Pisga Organics ("The harvest" in English) operates on 5-1/2 acres at
ALBA and provides steady work for 3 full-time employees. Her
husband has been side-by-with Sofia since the farm's start, bringing
over 20 years of valuable field experience to the business. Her grown
children also like to visit and help out, making it a truly family affair.
They have dreams of running a 25-acre farm after leaving ALBA. She
talks of moving to Oregon to be nearer her oldest son, whose idea
launched his parents in this exciting new direction.

Garcia Brothers Farm

Though just 25 years old, Octavio has long been one of ALBA's
rising stars. He came to us at just 17 after reading our ad in the
newspaper. A recent immigrant from Mexico and head of his
household of four brothers, he had to learn quickly.
Soft spoken and shy, he gradually gained confidence in the classroom and the field, running the business with his brother
Francisco. Now in his sixth and last year on ALBA land, Octavio is already considered a graduate of our program. More
impressively, he continued studying throughout his time at ALBA, finally earning his degree from Fresno State University in

2
May of 2015. To finance his studies, he received scholarships from Annie's Organics, CCOF and UNFI Foundation. He farms
nearly seven acres at ALBA with his brothers and a loyal crew of young worker, growing mainly strawberries and kale. He is
now planning his transition from ALBA land to his own independent farm, but he's also interested in seeking out a career as
a Pest Control Advisor. We wish him the best and are anxious to see just how high his star will rise.