Feb 26, 2016
MAFVC engages Spanish-speaking farmers, farmworkers

Since 2009, Penn State Extension has hosted a full-day session at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention (MAFVC), taught completely in Spanish. The MAFVC was held Feb. 2-4 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

MAFVC hosted a Spanish-language session. Photo: H. Nunez Contreras/Penn State Extension.
MAFVC hosted a Spanish-language session. Photo: H. Nunez Contreras/Penn State Extension.

These sessions have targeted Hispanic and Latino farmers, farm managers and farm workers, working in horticultural crop production. Bilingual educators from surrounding states have collaborated in the project, and helped to create a learning environment that is friendly, engaging, inclusive, and highly relevant.

The number of Hispanic farmers in Pennsylvania is increasing every year, mirroring national trends. Many of these entrepreneurs get their start as workers on established Pennsylvania farms, often rising to management positions. Educating Hispanic and Latino farmers, farm managers and farm workers in best management practices in crop production, pest control, pesticide safety, food safety, and farm business strengthens our state’s specialty crop industries and helps sustain them for the future.

Forty-two people attended this year’s Spanish session, held on Feb. 3, at the MAFVC. Hands-on, interactive teaching strategies have always been an important feature of this session. Rather than sitting all day in a lecture-style setting, participants roll up their sleeves and jump into learning through activities such as:

  • Identifying grass and broadleaf weeds using live samples and reference materials;
  • Witnessing how gloves and other personal protective equipment keep pesticides off of skin;
  • Visiting an orchard to practice pruning fruit trees for maximum production; and
  • Discussing IPM strategies and cost sharing opportunities for high tunnel production directly with USDA-NRCS staff.
Extension educators spoke at the session. Photo: H. Nunez Contreras/Penn State Extension.
Extension educators spoke at the session. Photo: H. Nunez Contreras/Penn State Extension.

A survey following the session indicated that 60% of participants have been involved in horticultural production for five or more years. Over half have attended the Spanish session for three or more years. Nearly all have put into practice what they have learned by improving horticultural practices, using new strategies to manage pests, improving crop quality, and protecting themselves and their families from pesticides.

The Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention is a multi-state grower meeting held in early February at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. The convention is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association, the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania, the Maryland and New Jersey State Horticultural Societies. Cooperative Extension from Penn State University, University of Maryland, Rutgers University, and Virginia Tech University collaborate to organize four days of educational sessions and workshops. Preliminary figures from the Feb. 2-4 convention indicate a new attendance record this year, of nearly 2,400 people.

 — Lee Stivers, Penn State Extension

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