Meet the Farmer

Jessie Najera didn’t grow up with dreams to own a farm, but his journey would soon lead him to places he didn’t expect. As a kid in Oaxaca, he remembers helping his dad grow and harvest corn, green beans, and chilies. At 18, Jessie moved permanently to the U.S. with his family and began working for a company that harvested grapes. His father also found jobs in agriculture at companies that harvested cilantro, kale, and beets. 

But Jessie wanted to try something new  and began taking classes in a totally different discipline: welding. For about five years, he worked in welding and enjoyed what he did. Meanwhile, his dad continued to work in agriculture and soon shared his ultimate goal with Jessie: to start a family business. That idea became Jessie’s focus. There was a lot for Jessie to learn — he says the soil in the U.S. is very different from the land in Mexico. Thus, he wanted to know everything he could about the many varieties of produce in the U.S. In his early 20s, he heard about the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) and enrolled in the Programa Educativo para Agricultores (PEPA), a training program that helps farmworkers transition into organic farmers. He continued working as a welder while taking PEPA’s online courses. 

Over time, the idea of a family business started to feel like a reality, and in 2022, Jessie Organic Farm was officially established. With help from his dad and brother, as well as cousins that live nearby, Jessie began harvesting mixed vegetables and berries and selling them wholesale. He also started selling to nearby schools, which made it even more important for him to harvest organic, pesticide-free food. As a farmer, Jessie uses practices such as crop rotation, growing cover crops, and applying compost to his soil. 

Although he’s now focused on the farm, Jessie continues to use his welding skills. He often builds his own farming tools, like making his own row markers to measure the distance between plants. Welding equipment helps him save money, and he can also modify each piece for his specific needs. 

Jessie says his biggest motivation is providing the community around him with healthy, pesticide-free produce. This inspires him to keep the business thriving and continue dreaming big about the farm’s future.