Last updated on June 5th, 2023 at 02:12 pm
AgriSafe is proud to join the HHS Office of Minority Health in celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Heritage month, a celebration of AA and NHPI individuals and communities in the United States.
We would like to acknowledge and thank AA and NHPI farmers and their ancestors, who helped spearhead agricultural policy and labor changes in the US, and helped us diversify our crops and how we cultivate the land.
According to the 2017 US Census of Agriculture, there are 5,296 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander producers in the US, with around 4,341 farms (source). Asian American producers account for 25,310 of US producers, with around 18,228 farms, and over 52% of Asian-operated farms produce specialty crops (source). These numbers do not include aquaculture, fishing, forestry, or logging!
It is important to note that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders experienced pronounced racial violence and social injustice in US from the 1870’s through the 1950’s.
- For a deep dive on Asian American history, check out Tam Le’s article, “Deeply Rooted: How Asian American Farmers Shaped U.S. Agriculture” on The Spruce Eats.
- For a comprehensive overview of US history with both Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (including Native Hawaiians), check out Franklin Odo’s article, “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Making of the Nation” on the National Park Service website.
History impacts the social, cultural, and economic contexts that directly influence health and wellness. When we serve agricultural populations, it is important to understand the historical determinants of health that might act as barriers to receiving care. Click here to learn how we can work together to advance Better Health Through Better Understanding for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
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