Name: Rooted in Trust: Culturally Responsive Farm Viability for Latino Farmers
Start: 2026-09-22T15:30:00-0600
End: 2026-09-22T17:00:00-0600

Rooted in Trust: Culturally Responsive Farm Viability for Latino Farmers

Tuesday September 22, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm MDT

Ballroom

A growing number of next-generation farmers in the U.S. are immigrants who began as farmworkers and later transitioned into farm ownership. While many bring strong production knowledge and deep agricultural experience, they often face barriers in accessing farm viability services such as bookkeeping, credit readiness, succession planning, business planning, and financial literacy support. This moderated panel discussion will explore how organizations across the country are building culturally and linguistically responsive farm viability programs for Latino farmers and other underserved producers. American Farmland Trust California and University of California, Davis will share findings from the Risk Management for Latino Farmers survey, highlighting current needs, barriers, and opportunities for stronger support systems. Panelists from nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and farmer-serving programs will discuss successful outreach models, trust-building strategies, and lessons learned in delivering business technical assistance that reflects the cultural, linguistic, and operational realities of the farmers they serve. Participants will leave with: - A stronger understanding of the diversity within Latino farming communities - Practical examples of culturally responsive outreach and technical assistance models - Strategies for improving farmer engagement and long-term participation - Ideas for adapting farm viability services to better support underserved producers - New opportunities for peer learning and cross-regional collaboration

Speakers

Deborah Nares

CA Senior Manager, American Farmland Trust

Deborah Nares is a 3rd generation Californian Mexican born and raised in the beach front town of Oceanside, CA. Deb joined AFT in 2021 and brings 2 decades of technical assistance and non-profit management experience centering the Latino farming community on the Central Coast of California... Read More →

Tania Zuñiga

Business Advisor, Kitchen Table Advisors

Mercedes Rodriguez

Danny Jacobo

Anna Chotzen

Director of Farm Viability, Viva Farms

Anna has nearly 15 years of experience supporting beginning and immigrant farmers to build thriving farm businesses. As Viva Farms' Director of Farm Viability, she leads the organization's land access, capital access, and business management programs. She works closely with capital... Read More →