ALBA creates economic opportunity for limited-resource farmers through land-based training in organic farm management. On 100 acres in the Salinas Valley, ALBA provides on-farm training and resources to help farmworkers pursue the dream of organic farm ownership or to advance their careers.
ALBA's Big Idea is to establish the nation's first 'Campus for Campesinos'. Now in our 25th year, we have helped launch over 250 organic farm businesses on our 100 acres, and have trained hundreds more. According to our 20-Year Impact Assessment, incomes have risen and so has career satisfaction. Perhaps the best evidence of program success is that new enrollees continue to apply in high numbers.
The Farmworker Opportunity Center is the first step in this vision. ALBA has long since outgrown its classroom and space, which hinders service, limits enrollment, and prevents development of new services (e.g. workforce development) Once the Center is completed, we hope to landscape the campus to make it a more functional learning environment and gathering space.
Help us honor farmworkers, who play a huge role in growing healthy foods!
ALBA enrolls participants from all over Monterey County, from Pajaro to King City. Most are low-income Latino farmworkers seeking to improve their livelihoods. Our impact assessment showed that 50% of Latino respondents are operating a farm business. Together these businesses farm around 1,500 acres and contribute over $40 million annually to the local economy.
Whether or not participants are farming, incomes have risen. The portion of respondents earning over $50,000 nearly doubled from 35% before coming to ALBA to 69% after leaving the program.
ALBA farmers also contribute to restoring the environment by not using synthetic pesticides, and by building healthy soil which is drought resistant, sequesters more carbon and prevents run off of nitrogen into the water supply.
Ultimately, our participants are living out their dream of farming independently with family and without pesticides.
From our 20-Year Impact Assessment: 1. "ALBA, opened up my world in the ag business. I was able to get a management job in a farm and then in a big ag company. " 2. "ALBA was very beneficial for me. I saw farming as just planting and harvesting. ALBA showed me how to be a businessman and made me a better farmer." ALBA does not give out names to respect our farmers' privacy.
- Names Not shared, Salinas
