Lee’s One Fortune Farm is comprised of a small band of relatives that worked together in the traditional way of helping each other in growing food for our families. Our “farm” is made up of 12 growers of vegetables and 6 of which are also growers of our heirloom rice. Traditionally we help each other with labor to keep our expenses down and to get our crops in and out on a timely basis.

Our family has been farming here in the foothills of North Carolina for the past 40 years. The Hmong community has kept mainly to ourselves in regard to fruits and vegetables. This meant our produce did not get much attention in the local markets. Our elders have been farming all their lives which has given them the knowledge to grow the food they need for their families. Our elders learn to work with the natural products that is available to create a fertile landscape to plant crops. Through a lifetime of farming work, they learned and understand the necessary work to achieve a sustainable crop and management of the land properly. We are seed savers and have many of our vegetables that are kept for several generations. Most of our crops are heirlooms and have a unique flavor that is required in Hmong cooking.

In 2008, we started Lee’s One Fortune Farm as a small entity to bring what we have into the local food scene. Our goals were to show our products, teach folks how to utilize those products, and show what our family has been growing such as our unique fruits and vegetables. We wanted a business that would showcase the hard work of our people and their talents in making the best out of all situations. Our farm business has become the vehicle for our elders (who are very shy and reclusive) an outlet to make an income. Our elders do not have opportunities to get an education or work in factories to make a living.  Our farm business is here to offer our elders a means to keep on farming and have a meaningful life.

We are growing as a farming business and have had a small impact on the food scene in WNC. We have found that our friends in the local community have had a positive response to our products. This has given us the opportunity to expand and develop more property into food production. Today we are managing more acreage to grow fruits and vegetables. Our goal is to expand further so we can meet future demands of the region. Our future is based on creating a positive relationship with our local community (restaurants, shopping friends, and agriculture leaders) that will drive both our success and change in part the flavor and diet of our WNC community.