On a Saturday morning, local farmers bring in ripe tomatoes, plump cucumbers, and aromatic bundles of herbs as the sun greets the world. It’s 5:30 in the morning in the Kendall Whittier neighborhood. Amidst the exchange of heavy baskets of potatoes among weathered hands, a soft murmur ripples along Admiral Boulevard. If you listen closely, you’ll notice that most growers are conversing in languages other than English.
This is because a significant number of vendors at the Tulsa Farmers’ Market are Hmong.
“Kristin Hutto, the executive director of TFM, acknowledges that our Hmong growers are the cornerstone of market farming in Green Country,” highlighting the vital role they play in providing fresh produce to Tulsa tables throughout the year.
A Family Affair
In the case of Oklahmong, farming is a family affair.
“It’s an activity that my mom, sister, and I can do together, involving the kids and grandkids,” shares Sandy Siers, the daughter of Bao Yang, who is the heart of Oklahmong.
Siers reminisces about their past experience selling produce at the farmers’ market with her mother about a decade ago. Last year, they reunited as growers at the market.
“My mom expressed how much she missed gardening and doing it with all of us,” recalls Siers. “We used to harvest and wash produce every Friday, then go to the market together on Saturdays. Now that we’re older, my mom longed for those times.”
Having grown up in Thailand, Yang immigrated to the United States in the mid-‘80s. “After settling in Minneapolis from Thailand, my parents yearned for farming,” Siers explains. “My mom is exceptionally skilled in gardening, having cultivated plants since she was ten years old in Thailand.”
In 2005, the family relocated to Oklahoma. “With more land available here, they started with just 2 acres. Even if it was a small plot in the backyard, my mom wanted to get back to gardening,” Siers adds.
Siers fondly recalls how she grew up consuming her mother’s homegrown herbs daily and the countless hours spent in the garden. Now, her mother delights in sharing the garden with her family.
“She now enjoys gardening with the grandkids, being out in the garden with them and passing on her knowledge,” Siers remarks.
The family works the land together on Yang’s property in Jay. Oklahmong offers a variety of produce, from squash, zucchini, and Asian cantaloupe to herbs commonly used in Hmong cuisine like lemongrass.
“We learn something new every day,” says Siers. “Farming together has been an exciting and enjoyable experience.”
A Community of Growers
At Tria Yang Farm’s booth, you can’t miss the array of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, Thai chiles, green onions, and vibrant dahlias.
“Our booth may be one of the largest at the market, but it’s just my mom, dad, younger sister, and me working on the farm,” says Pakou Yang, the daughter of Tria Yang and Dai Lor.
“My parents were born in Laos and came to America due to the war during that time,” Yang explains.
Initially residing in Minnesota upon their arrival in the U.S., the Yang family moved to Oklahoma in 2006 in search of a warmer climate and more extensive land. Following layoffs from their factory jobs, they turned to their farming background for a fresh start.
“My parents had farming experience in Laos and decided to pursue it as a new venture,” Yang recounts. “They returned to farming because it was something they excelled at. It started out of necessity and eventually became their livelihood.”
Tria Yang Farm joined the Tulsa Farmers’ Market in 2008, the same year Yang’s younger sister, Lailai, was born. Now, 16 years later, Lailai assists in packing vegetables into their car every Saturday morning and helps her mother with flower arrangements at the market.
Located in Vinita on 10 acres of land, Tria Yang Farm cultivates produce in open gardens and greenhouses. They recently transitioned to a new plot for gardening.
With years of experience at the farmers’ market, the Yang family serves as a source of guidance for many Hmong growers.
“Other Hmong farmers have a similar level of proficiency in English as my parents. They interact and exchange advice,” Yang shares. “Since many new vendors have recently moved from out of state, they are unfamiliar with farming in Oklahoma’s climate. They seek advice from my parents, who willingly share their knowledge.”
“The farmers’ market fosters a fantastic community spirit,” Yang emphasizes.
Balancing Work and Passion
Sho Vue and his wife, Xai Lee, who have a background in farming, embarked on cultivating their farm as they approached retirement.
Similar to many Hmong individuals from Laos, Vue sought refuge in the United States during the Vietnam War and the civil war in Laos. After settling down, Vue spent 20 years in Syracuse, New York, with his wife, whom he met in a refugee camp upon their immigration.
Having endured the harsh winters of upstate New York for decades, the couple desired a warmer climate. Thus, in 2005, they relocated to Oklahoma. While operating their tailoring business, Mee’s Tailor Shop in Sperry, they ventured into farming.
“We’ve been in Oklahoma for 18 years, but we only started farming two years ago,” Vue mentions. “My wife’s family used to farm in Laos, and she was quite adept at it.
“As retirement approaches, we wanted to engage in an activity we could enjoy every day.”
Balancing responsibilities between Green Farm and the tailoring shop, the couple dedicates Friday evenings to preparing for the market. Vue and Lee often work until midnight washing and packing produce. On Saturdays, they drive to Tulsa to work side by side at the farmers’ market.
Situated on 15 acres of land, Green Farm yields onions, potatoes, tomatoes, radishes, zucchinis, and more.
“Starting from scratch, we’ve made significant progress,” Vue remarks. “The people at the market are incredibly friendly.”
Vue takes pride in being part of the Hmong community in Tulsa. “We are Hmong. We are here,” Vue asserts. He actively supports the Hmong community and, amidst the harvest season at Green Farm, he prepares for Hmong Day in Oklahoma in May.
Adapting to Oklahoma’s Climate
Lenny Xiong and his wife, Song, produce an abundance of fresh vegetables on their 7-acre farm in Vinita during peak growing seasons. Lenny’s Farm is surrounded by rows of vibrant green lettuce heads and root vegetable tops.
Come Saturday morning, their booth at the farmers’ market showcases a wide selection of produce.
Xiong’s farming expertise stems from his childhood experiences in Laos and subsequent years in Minnesota. He immigrated to the United States in 1980 at the age of 13, residing in Minnesota for over two decades.
“Living in Minnesota, the weather was too cold, prompting my decision to move to Oklahoma,” Xiong explains. Upon arriving in the state, he had to acclimate to the hot summers.
“The water and weather in Oklahoma were too hot for the vegetables,” Xiong recalls. Over time, he learned to adapt his farming practices to suit the local conditions.
Learning about the farmers’ market from his Hmong neighbors and friends, Xiong applied and began selling at the Tulsa market in 2022.
Late winter and early spring are dedicated to cultivating vegetables and preparing for the bustling market season. By May, Lenny’s Farm is in full swing at the farmers’ market until they wind down for the next season at the end of November.
Lenny’s Farm offers a variety of produce, including potatoes, rainbow carrots, cherry tomatoes, and more.
Whether you seek fresh flowers, sun-ripened tomatoes, or Asian herbs to enhance your dishes, the farmers at the Tulsa Farmers’ Market have you covered. Each vegetable embodies the dedication and hard work of a farmer who has nurtured their garden for months and journeyed far to establish a livelihood from the seeds they have sown.
You can meet these farmers and savor the fruits of their labor at the Tulsa Farmers’ Market on Admiral and Lewis every first Saturday of April, marking the commencement of the main season.