Farmer brings a taste of Mexico to the fields of Verona

[gentle music]

Angela Fitzgerald: It’s a sunny fall day on this rural Verona farm.

Juan Gonzalez is pulling up the papalo.

Juan Gonzalez: [speaking Spanish]

Angela Fitzgerald: And picking the purslane.

Juan Gonzalez: [speaking Spanish]

Angela Fitzgerald: These herbs are not typically grown in Wisconsin farms, making them hard to find.

Juan Gonzalez: [speaking Spanish]

Angela Fitzgerald: But for Mexican immigrants like Juan, they are a taste of home, especially for those from the state of Puebla.

Juan Gonzalez: [speaking Spanish]

Angela Fitzgerald: To get to the point where Juan is today, growing herbs for himself and others, has been a journey. From the rancho where he was raised to the farm fields of the West.

Juan Gonzalez: [speaking Spanish]

Angela Fitzgerald: To a chance encounter on a Madison city bus more than 20 years ago.

Juan Gonzalez: [speaking Spanish]

Angela Fitzgerald: But to grow from hobby gardener to full-time farmer would take time, and an unlikely friendship.

Juan told the community garden director he sought larger fields to grow more.

Juan Gonzalez: [speaking Spanish]

Angela Fitzgerald: Linda and Gene Farley lived on this land. They were radically generous people who opened up their home and their property to farmers who were looking for space to grow.

Gene and Linda Farley spent their first years after med school together tending to the needs of the Navajo in the Southwest.

Then they brought their spirit of public service to southern Wisconsin. Eventually, they met Juan.

Speaker: He knew Linda and Gene before our program and organization was started, and he worked with Gene to develop the incubator farm, what would become our collaborative farm.

Angela Fitzgerald: Today, the Farleys’ farm continues what was started with Juan, a path to agriculture production for dedicated newcomers.

Juan Gonzalez: [speaking Spanish]

Angela Fitzgerald: Like Juan, many of the aspiring farmers have been immigrants.

Speaker: People have come from all over, many from Latin America, as well as a lot of people from Southeast Asia and West Africa.

Angela Fitzgerald: Many more come on tours. They learn about the farmer program and the organic and sustainable practices the farm employs.

Through a translator, Juan talks about his specialty crops.

Speaker: But then, you also have, like, purslane…

Angela Fitzgerald: The number of familiar plants from home Juan has brought to Wisconsin has added new flavor to the community.

Juan Gonzalez: [speaking Spanish]

Angela Fitzgerald: El Sabor de Puebla, literally “the flavor of Puebla” is the restaurant owned by Juan’s sister.

She’s a big customer for his produce, including flowers that will decorate the ofrenda in the lobby.

Juan Gonzalez: [speaking Spanish]

Angela Fitzgerald: On Halloween Day at the Centro Hispano Farmers’ Market, Juan’s vegetable stand has plenty of marigolds for use the next day, the Day of the Dead.

Flowers and other tributes will fill these altars of remembrance to those now gone. And in the highest perch of honor at the restaurant are the Doctors Farley.

Juan Gonzalez: [speaking Spanish]

Angela Fitzgerald: No doubt Los Abuelos Farley would be happy with all their farm has provided.

Juan Gonzalez: [speaking Spanish]

[gentle music]