Latino beginning farmers (los granjeros) in the Great Lakes are establishing in the small fruit industry and are just entering vegetable production. La Cosecha (the Harvest) program is recognized as a successful program for Latino farmers of all ages and genders (hombres y mujeres) with different levels of knowledge and skills: advanced, intermediate and beginners’ farmers in aspects crop production and diversification. However, farmers still face critical factors including low quality fruits, international and national fruit market competition, pollination services (abejas), access to food systems, and fruit packaging that are affecting their profits, and threatening to eliminate their role in the fruit industry in Michigan. These farmers are already established by Lake Michigan. Therefore, a strategic plan needs to be implemented. La Cosecha 2020 project is a collaboration partnership of Michigan State University (Extension, and Migrant Student Services), and Telamon Corporation (NGO) for the following objectives of La Cosecha 2020: a) increase fruit and crop production and diversification; b) provide the training in business, marketing and access to the food systems (hubs); d) train in safety practices including (GAPs), pesticide education; e) access to the USDA programs; and f) provide essential training in packaging. Our prediction is that Latino farmers will be able to make right decisions about crop production and improve both sustainability and food safety. Lessons learned in our model system will be applicable to other groups of beginning farmers around the country.

Goal 1. To expand the sustainable access by socially-disadvantaged Latino farmers to resources and programs and to engage them in modern and efficient pest and nutrient management to support viable crop production, market access, diversification, natural resources conservation, and enhanced food security.

Goal 2. To provide the knowledge and tools in the use of pollination services, business and access to hub food systems and packaging techniques and materials to beginning Latino farmers.

This is a new $600,000 USDA NIFA BFRDP (2020-2023) funded in the second half o the 2020. Workshops, training were offered online, phone calls, text messages and other means. The pandemic affected our face to face interaction