Enabling Immigrant Farmers To Grow On American Soil

New York City’s new 12-week farmer development program, FARMroots, instructs immigrants with agricultural backgrounds in the industry

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By Liz Robbins

The New York Times

UNION, N.J. — On a verdant farm five miles from Newark Liberty International Airport, Jacob Okam struggled to push a shiny, new garden tiller over the bumpy soil last month. His black jersey was already drenched in the noonday sun as he cut a lonesome, but winsome, figure in the field — at one with the land that is both his heritage and his hope.

Mr. Okam, 63, was growing leafy Nigerian vegetables on American soil with New York City business principles. And a sprinkling of his native wisdom.

“My mother always told me: ‘He who makes his hand touch the soil can never go hungry,’ ” Mr. Okam said in his easy, proverbial way, looking upon the one-acre plot he leases here from Kean University.

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