Southeastern African-American Farmers Organic Network (SAAFON)

Important Facts

There are 60 million plus farmland acres in the Southeast (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC).
Of these 294,000+ farms, there are 25,519 minority farm owners. 16,872 are African-American, 5,080 are Hispanic, 2,280 are Native-Americans.
Organic cropping systems use about 30% less fossil fuel energy than conventional systems.
The U.S. is 2.263 billion acres, of which 745 million acres, or 33 percent, is forested.

Past Summit Info!

Over 60 Regional Organizations Were Represented at SoGreen Network's Summit - 2011

This year's Summit was hosted on the campus of Florida A&M University

» Click Here for more info.

Roots of Change

History of African-Americans in Agriculture

Dr. Owusu Bandele

» READ MORE

The Southeastern African-American Farmers Organic Network (SAAFON), a project of the SoGreen Network, is a network of farmers using sustainable growing methods. The Network is comprised of small and limited resource farmers that are either certified organic or growing organically. Currently SAAFON farmers are located in six states and the Virgin Islands: Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisina, North Carolina, South Carolina, and St. Croix Island. The goal is to add ten (10) farmers to the Network each year. Participation is the Network is free to the members.

The Network is governed by an Advisory Board. The Advisory Board consist of a farmer (s) representative from each state that is a part of SAAFON’s regional network. It is through this Advisory Board that the farmer members determine the sharing of resources, information and marketing outlets.

The results of this project have shown that given proper information and technical support small and limited resource farmers, especially African-American and women farmers will consider organic production as a viable agricultural and economic alternative

To provide small and limited resource farmers with trainings, resources, and information to grow organically.
To ensure the farmers in the network have access to available programs and services provided by universities, extension and research centers, agricultural organizations, and regional mentoring programs.
To develop a farmers’ collaborative for the purpose of marketing their organically grown products locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.