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The Thao Family—Growing Flowers for Market on Their Own Land
2007-11-04
The most beautiful fresh flowers and dried-floral wreaths can be purchased from Der Thao and Nikk Cha at the St. Paul Farmers’ Market. This young couple has been part of the market for over ten years, working with their parents before starting their own operation. Working 20-hour days during the growing season, Der and Nikk, both in their mid-twenties and raising four young children, have worked extraordinarily hard to make a living as small-scale farmers.
In March 2001, a dream came true when the Thaos became the first Hmong-American family in Minnesota to be approved for a Farm Serve Agency loan, which enabled them to purchase 65 acres of farmland. Without the loan they may have been forced out of farming because the land they were renting was put on the market at a price they couldn’t afford. Thanks to their hard work, creativity, and perseverance, the Thao family has a bright future ahead of them.
