Many refugees and other Americans come to the U.S. with backgrounds in agriculture. New Roots, a farmer training and food access initiative of the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City, provides these communities with a way to reconnect with land, grow culturally appropriate vegetables, and leverage their farming skills to earn supplemental income. Roots farmers earn income through wholesale relationships, farmers markets and a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The New Roots Farmers Markets and CSA operate from June to October.
New Roots farmers grow a wide range of crops. Many are familiar to the American palate, such as beets, carrots, heirloom slicing tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, kale, lettuce greens, peppers, and eggplants. Additionally, they grow specialty ethnic crops like African eggplant, Thai chili peppers, amaranth Greens, molokhia (Egyptian Spinach), Tatume Squash, and long beans, among others.
All proceeds from sales go to the program’s 45 plus farmers who originate from Sudan, Burma, Bhutan, Chad, Somalia, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The farmers collectively manage 15 acres of leased land spread throughout Salt Lake County.
Learn how to sign up for the New Roots CSA.
Can Be Found Here:
- Sunnyvale Farmers Market at Sunnyvale Park (4013 South 700 West, Millcreek) Saturdays, 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
- New Roots Redwood Farm Market (3005 Lester St. West Valley City) Wednesdays 4:30-7:00 pm
- New Roots IRC Farmers Market (221 South 400 West, Salt Lake City) Wednesday 4:30-7:00 pm