Are you an equity-deserving farmer, farmworker, or land steward? Are you looking for training, mentoring, and solidarity with others to help you succeed long-term in agriculture? Apply in January 2025 to join THE EXCHANGE’s second cohort!
Equity-deserving farmers can apply to join and receive support to pursue their training and mentoring goals in the context of THE EXCHANGE: Cultivating Diversity in Agriculture. What will help you thrive in Canadian agriculture in the long-term? You decide, then commit to the training and mentorship that will advance your career – while joining a cohort of 20 farmers also on the learning journey with you.
In the meantime, meet our current cohort! Discover their stories, goals, and the unique experiences that make this community so rich and resilient. Each farmer brings a unique perspective and dedication to creating a diverse, inclusive future in agriculture.
Meet the Farmers of The Exchange
Welcome to the heart of The Exchange – our community of farmers, farmworkers, and land stewards committed to growing a more inclusive and diverse Canadian agriculture. Here, you’ll meet inspiring individuals from across the country, each bringing their unique backgrounds, experiences, and visions for change to the land. Through The Exchange, these farmers are gaining the mentorship, training, and support to pursue their goals, build lasting connections, and thrive in agriculture.
Get to know the people behind the movement. These profiles highlight their journeys, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the dreams that drive them. Each story is a testament to the resilience and creativity shaping the future of Canadian agriculture.
Surendra Lawoti
Originally from Nepal, Surendra immigrated to Canada in 2008 after studying visual arts in the US. Four years ago, he started growing Dalle peppers to make achar using his mother’s recipe. He has since expanded to market gardening, cultivating half an acre in Campbellville, Ontario, reconnecting with his roots. www.lawoti.com
Kayla
Kayla began her farming journey in 2022 at Kwantlen’s TFN Farm school. This year she started up her own 5-acre Market Garden; Full Moon Farm located on Gabriola Island, BC. She grows a variety of vegetables, apples, flowers and medicinal herbs, using sustainable and regenerative farming practices. IG @fullmoonfarmandstudio
Ferron Family Farms
Ferron Family Farms is a Black-owned, family-run business in New Brunswick, provides grass-fed, pasture-raised meats and culturally inspired products. We specialize in offering fresh cultural meat cuts, produce and products that are significant to various traditions, while promoting food security through sustainable farming. Our offerings include goat, beef, lamb, pork, chicken, and free-range eggs.
Surendra Lawoti
Originally from Nepal, Surendra immigrated to Canada in 2008 after studying visual arts in the US. Four years ago, he started growing Dalle peppers to make achar using his mother’s recipe. He has since expanded to market gardening, cultivating half an acre in Campbellville, Ontario, reconnecting with his roots. www.lawoti.com
Ferron Family Farms
Ferron Family Farms is a Black-owned, family-run business in New Brunswick, provides grass-fed, pasture-raised meats and culturally inspired products. We specialize in offering fresh cultural meat cuts, produce and products that are significant to various traditions, while promoting food security through sustainable farming. Our offerings include goat, beef, lamb, pork, chicken, and free-range eggs.
Kayla
Kayla began her farming journey in 2022 at Kwantlen’s TFN Farm school. This year she started up her own 5-acre Market Garden; Full Moon Farm located on Gabriola Island, BC. She grows a variety of vegetables, apples, flowers and medicinal herbs, using sustainable and regenerative farming practices. IG @fullmoonfarmandstudio
Applications will re-open in January 2025.
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Acknowledgements
The Government of Canada is supporting the National Farmers Union for this project through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriDiversity Program, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
Le gouvernement du Canada soutient l’union nationale des fermiers dans ce projet par l’intermédiaire du programme Agri-diversité d’Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada, une initiative dans le cadre du Partenariat canadien pour une agriculture durable.
