‘Filling in the gaps’ for food access: women-run farms rethink California agriculture

Female farmers represent an increasing share of Golden State cultivators - and grow a wider variety of specialty crops' than done in traditional monoculture

At Radical Family Farms, Leslie Wiser recently planted bitter melons, what she refers to as one of our most beloved crops", a staple in many types of Asian cuisine that grows on a vine and is related to zucchini, squash and cucumber. It was a warm day on her three-acre farm, yet the cloud cover made it just right to be working on what Wiser says is her dreamy but expensive" mixed-Asian vegetable farm that she started in 2018.

Regenerative climate, smart farming takes a lot of time," said Wiser, the child of Chinese-Taiwanese, German and Polish-Jewish immigrants who came into farming in her early 40s. She dreamed about growing vegetables that reflect her heritage and teach her children where their food comes from, and this is exactly what she's doing.