Nonglak Suksawat, an industrious farmer originally from Thailand, emigrated to the United States as a refugee in 2007. Since her arrival, she has resided in Fresno County, where she has established herself as a dedicated member of the local agricultural community. Nonglak’s passion for farming, nurtured in her homeland, has driven her to develop a thriving farming operation in the U.S. Starting modestly with just a quarter-acre plot, she has expanded her farm to three acres through hard work and perseverance.
However, her journey has not been without significant challenges. During the hot summer months, water scarcity forces her to irrigate her crops at night. Tragically, she also faced personal loss when her husband passed away two years ago, which understandably affected her ability to manage the farm as she once did. More recently, her farm suffered a robbery, resulting in the loss of essential equipment.
Despite these obstacles, Nonglak remains resolute in her commitment to farming. With the invaluable support of her daughter and friends, she continues to overcome these difficulties and focuses on expanding her operations. Early this year, she took a significant step towards sustainable farming by attending the ECO Farm Conference. There, she learned about regenerative agriculture practices and committed to transitioning her farm to organic production.
Nonglak specializes in growing unique, high-quality crops that are highly sought after by local restaurants and farmers markets. Her dedication to quality and sustainability not only supports her livelihood but also enriches the local food community. To further her goals and ensure year-round production, Nonglak used a loan to construct an additional greenhouse. This investment enables her to protect her crops from adverse weather, extend the growing season, and increase her farm’s overall productivity. Supporting Nonglak with this loan contributes to the growth of a resilient, sustainable farming operation and assists a dedicated farmer in continuing her invaluable work.
Recently, during a hands-on volunteer session with Citi Bank volunteers, Patricia Vazquez Topete, Vice President and Community Relations Market Manager, Central Valley and Sacramento, wrote on her LinkedIn post: “As an educator myself in my previous career what stood out to me the most was when Nonglak shared with us that her dream is for her farm to expand and grow so she can send her three year old daughter to college. This goes beyond providing loans to small farmers the impact of this type of economic investment has the potential to support a family holistically through which Nonglak’s daughters can one day receive a higher education funded through the profits of her small farm. This is really where our work meets community needs!”