Harvesting Hope and Cultivating Big Dreams

Fresno BIPOC Produce works with a network of small farmers who rely on them to bring their crops to market.  In addition to distributing at farmers markets, crops now reach schools, food banks and institutions that serve low-income communities.  Farmers are encouraged to grow crops that meet a diverse community demand such as Asian cilantro, bok choy and tomatoes. 

Keng Vang has the heart of a farmer and the spirit of an entrepreneur. After graduating from Fresno State and working briefly for the U.S. Forest Service, Keng found his passion. He started Fresno BIPOC Produce, a food hub serving Black, Indigenous and people of color farmers.

When he launched this endeavor in 2021, Keng had little more than determination and a commitment to help small farmers participate in the Central Valley’s agricultural abundance. He started with no capital, no equipment and no warehouse, just a vision to build something that would help underserved growers sell their produce and strengthen the communities they feed. Three years later, that vision has grown into a thriving regional network supporting more than 200 small farms across Fresno, Madera, Merced and surrounding counties.

The turning point came when Keng connected with community partners like the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) and the Farms Food Future (F3) Initiative. Through their support, which includes technical assistance, education and market connections in addition to funding, Fresno BIPOC Produce gained the infrastructure it needed to scale. By 2024, the business had grown enough for Keng to hire employees and purchase three vehicles. Today, Fresno BIPOC Produce has a growing staff and a network of farmers who rely on the hub to bring their crops to market.

This impact allows small farmers to dream big. With support accessed through CAFF and F3, Keng’s sales increased, and his profit doubled. “When my profit goes up, it means more money is going back to the farmers,” Keng said. “I’m so happy I can help farmers sell their produce.”

Through support from community partners like the Community Alliance with Family Farmers and those involved in the Farms Food Future Initiative, Fresno BIPOC Produce founder Keng Vang received technical assistance, education and funding that allowed him to scale.  That growth positively impacts the farmers who rely on him to distribute their crops. 

That growth isn’t just a business milestone; it’s a lifeline for the farmers whose produce now reaches schools, food banks and institutions serving low-income communities.

Keng’s ultimate goal is to “give people access to nutritious food.” That mission includes encouraging farmers to grow crops that meet community demand. This includes vegetables like bok choy, tomatoes and Asian cilantro that reflect the heritage of many families in the Central Valley.

As Fresno BIPOC Produce expands, so does Keng’s vision for the future. With support from the Central Valley Community Foundation, he purchased 2.7 acres in Southwest Fresno, where he plans to build a cold-storage warehouse. In Fresno’s triple-digit heat, access to cooling facilities is essential, but prohibitively expensive. Most of the Central Valley’s existing freezers and refrigerators serve large growers. Creating a shared space for small farmers will offer storage, stability and a home base for future agritourism and regenerative agriculture education.

The work is deeply personal for Keng. Born in a refugee camp in Thailand to Lao Hmong parents, he grew up surrounded by elders who farmed to survive. The Central Valley’s fertile soil drew generations of Hmong and immigrant families seeking opportunity, and those relationships remain central to his work today. “Many of the farmers I work with, I call them grandma, grandpa, auntie,” he said. “They look at me as their son, grandson, and that’s why they trust me. It’s not just heritage, but they’ve seen how I work, and they know that I’m here for them.”

As Fresno BIPOC Produce continues to grow, Keng remains grounded in gratitude. “I am so grateful to the [Central Valley] Community Foundation for being a great partner and for trusting me and my work. Without their support and partnership, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Keng Vang, founder of Fresno BIPOC Produce, began the distributorship in 2021 with a vision to build an entity that would help underserved growers sell their produce and strengthen the communities they feed.  Vang’s vision has grown into a regional network of more than 200 small farms across the Central Valley. 

This story is part of the Central Valley Community Foundation’s “Sixty Stories That Shaped Us” initiative, marking 60 years since our founding. We invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone and the special place we call home. To learn more, visit centralvalleycf.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @centralvalleycf.