After 13 years of working in the fields processing lettuce, Celsa Coronel decided it was time for a change. While training for a position in an office setting, Coronel saw a presentation about ALBA, the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association and knew that a farming path was more aligned with her passions and interests: u201cWhen I saw this opportunity, and they explained to me how everything worked, I said, u2018That is right: Here you can give it your all because itu2019s for you, for your future, for your family, and to help people.u2019 And so, I changed [back] to agriculture, because that was for me.”1
After successfully completing the yearlong training program emphasizing both classroom and hands-on fieldwork, Coronel secured half an acre, where she has begun to put learning into action. Coronel grows various organic vegetables like celery and kale, but growing lettuce has been the most rewarding for the new farmer. u201c[After] entering the trainings and because I was a lettuce packer, I got excited when I heard them speak [about lettuces],u201d she says. u201cAnd then, I saw my own lettuces planted! This is the best thing Iu2019ve done.u201d2 After years of working and processing lettuce on other peopleu2019s farms, Coronel now has an opportunity to become her own boss and produce organic food for her family and the community. u201cNow itu2019s more like, you watch how everything grows, you plant, you repair the soil, you watch the daily growth, and itu2019s beautiful.u201d3
Coronelu2019s goal is to continue expanding the operation every year, learning more at each stage. With support from ALBA, fellow graduates, and family at home, this goal feels possible to Coronel: u201cIt is nice to have teammates and feel a good vibe, because we spend all day here, and well, itu2019s like a family too. You have a family at home and have another family here too, which is so nice. My children are so excited that I am doing this; they like it and support me. I know I am on the right path.u201d4
Coronel understands the benefits and rigors of farming, and with a grant from CCOF, training from ALBA, and support from her friends and family, Coronel is on a promising path to becoming a lifelong organic farmer.
Last year was the first time that the CCOF Foundation supported Celsa Coronelu2019s career in organic agriculture. Coronel plans to continue learning and growing organically, to graduate from the Organic Farm Incubator program, and to expand to a larger property with more acreage in the coming years. The CCOF Foundation congratulates and wishes the best to Celsa Coronel with the upcoming harvest in 2021!
Find out more about the Future Organic Farmers grant fund from CCOF at the Future Organic Farmers website now!
All quotes translated from Spanish to English and edited for clarity and intent.
1u201cCuando miru00e9 la oportunidad esta y me explicaron cu00f3mo estaba todo, dije, u2018Oh pues allu00ed si, puedes dar mu00e1s porque es para ti, es para tu futuro, para tu familia, para ayudarle a las personas,u2019 y dije, u2018Oh, y me cambiu00e9 para la agricultura, porque esto era lo mu00edo.u2019u201d
2u201cYo hasta que mire mis lechugas sembradas, y entrar al entrenamiento, porque yo era lechuguera, y dije yo, oh, me emocione cuando estaba escuchando hablar. Es lo mejor que hice.u201d
3u201cAhora es mu00e1s como tu00fa miras como crecen, tu00fa plantala, tu00fa arreglas la tierra, y tu00fa miras como van creciendo diariamente, y es bien bonito esto.u201d
4u201cEs bonito tener compau00f1eros y sentir una buena vibra aquu00ed porque aquu00ed nos pasa todo el du00eda, y pues esta como una familia tambiu00e9n. Tener una familia en la casa y luego tener otra familia aquu00ed es bien bonitou2026 mis hijos tambiu00e9n se emocionan de mirar que yo estoy haciendo esto; les gusta, me apoyanu2026digo voy por buen camino.u201d