A Day at the Pleasanton Farmers Market
(In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month)
Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15th to October 15th, is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Harvest Park middle school 7th graders - Siva Sundar, Ronit Gulla, and Travis Chiu interviewed two Hispanic/Latino farmers, Mrs. Marisela and Mr. Juan at the Pleasanton farmers market. The two farmers have worked at separate farms for over 20 years to provide the community with fresh and organic vegetables.
Mrs.Marisela is a farmer with 22 years of experience at King Ranch Farms, a family-owned farm composed of 5 family members. When Marisela was asked, “Why did you choose to farm organically?” She responded, “I like organic farming since it is safe, reliable, good for the environment, and requires no harmful pesticides.” She also stated that she loves to provide the community with fresh, organic vegetables, and interact with the people.
Mr. Juan from Borba Farms was asked what his accomplishments were in his years of farming. He replied, “Everybody tells us that we have very good organic fruits and vegetables that are delicious.” Borba Farms started with 10-15 people, now they have 30 people including his brother and himself. Juan’s reason to enjoy farming was because he wanted to provide good and healthy vegetables while maintaining a stable business.
Both Mr. Juan and Mrs. Marisela gave us some facts and tips about organic produce, which includes the smell, taste, size, and seeds of a vegetable. Marisela stated,” When buying organic vegetables, a way to tell if they are organic is that they will be of different sizes.” Mr. Juan told us that organic vegetables have a mild scent to them. An interesting fact that we learned was that seeds are different for even the same fruits throughout the seasons.
During Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, it's important to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans like Mrs. Marisela and Mr. Juan. Their passion for farming and dedication highlight their contributions to the community through agriculture.
Note: Harvest PTSA does not endorse these farms
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