Diana Padilla's nonprofit, HOPE, helps preserve farmland in South Texas by providing support and training for small farmers.
Berenice Garcia reports for The Texas Tribune.
In short:
- Texas is losing farmland rapidly due to population growth and development, with the Rio Grande Valley experiencing significant losses.
- Diana Padilla's nonprofit, HOPE, supports small farmers with training and resources to help them use renewable energy and grow affordable organic produce.
- HOPE received a $7.4 million USDA grant to purchase land and create community farming spaces for new farmers.
Key quote:
"The people who are poor, they have to buy whatever they can afford and whatever they can afford sometimes isn't always good."
— Diana Padilla, executive director of HOPE
Why this matters:
Supporting small farmers is crucial for preserving agricultural land and ensuring access to healthy, affordable food. Without intervention, rapid development threatens the sustainability of farming communities and local ecosystems.
