Risk Management for Hmong Farmers

Michele Schermann, Research Fellow
John Shutske, Professor and Extension Specialist
Paul Hugunin, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Objective

Develop workshops to educate Hmong farmers and gardeners about agricultural best practices regarding food handling and economic opportunities.

Need or Impact

While there have not been any publicized cases of outbreaks of illness linked to Hmong-grown vegetables or herbs, all Hmong growers who sell at farmers’ markets could be affected through reduced or lost sales if there were a case of contamination. Workshops, a curriculum, and a DVD for Hmong farmers and gardeners based on the “Food Safety Begins on the Farm” and “Good Agricultural Practices” manual created by the USDA and Cornell University are being created to educate Hmong farmers and gardeners about safe harvest and post-harvest food safety.

Status

In progress. Curriculum has been developed and is ready for pilot testing. Workshops are scheduled for early 2006.