Fabulous farmers market flowers: Redmond Historical Society program shows how Hmong refugees found their niche

Published 12:48 pm Monday, March 2, 2015

Special to the Reporter

Hmong farmers aren’t usually the subject of dinner conversations, but what they grow — those gorgeous bouquets of flowers sold at farmers markets and roadside stands — are often the centerpieces of dinner tables across the Puget Sound.

Ironically, the Hmong, an ethnic group from the mountainous area shared by China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, don’t even have a long history of farming flowers. Their ancestors farmed rice and other subsistence food, but when thousands of Hmong families who helped the CIA during the Vietnam War were resettled in the U.S., they had to find a niche — and for many that became flowers.

Their story of resettlement and reinvention is the subject of the next Redmond Historical Society Saturday Speaker Series from 10:30 a.m. to noon on March 14 at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, 16600 N.E. 80th St.

“In addition to highlighting a few Redmond-area farm families, we’ll discuss in some detail the secret war in Laos and the involvement of the Hmong,” says guest speaker Seng Vue, president of the Hmong Association of Washington. During the buildup to the Vietnam War, Hmong “were recruited by the United States CIA to help fight the communist transportation of goods through Laos,” he adds.

After the fall of Vietnam and Laos to communists, more than 130,000 Hmong refugees came to the United States between the 1970s and 1990s. Most settled in California or Minnesota, while far fewer came to the Pacific Northwest.

“Many of the Hmong immigrants were looking to earn a living,” Vue notes. “Many had been farmers in the highlands of Southeast Asia and looked to continue using those skill sets.

“Starting up their own businesses many faced challenges such as learning the language, learning to use modern farm technology and finding affordable, decent land,” he adds.

Local support groups started an “Indo Chinese Farm Project” that aimed to “help the new refugees turn what they were good at — farming — into a sustainable income,” Vue says. Hmong farmers were shown how to best handle the soil, weather and pests of the Snoqualmie and Snohomish valleys.

Today, the Hmong get some support from Washington State University’s farm extension program. WSU Small Farm Immigrant Program Coordinator Bee Cha will also be speaking.Cha’s own family farms in the Snoqualmie Valley near Carnation — one of many families who lease land along the river. Their dahlias, tulips, dried bouquets and vegetables are sold across the region — from Redmond’s Saturday Market to Seattle’s Pike Place Market, where 40 percent of the farm vendors are Hmong.

The Hmong still face challenges, especially flooding that’s happening more often.

“This is a constant struggle,” Vue says. “These families keep going because this is their way of life and income for their families. If they stop, there will be no financial support for the family. Also the Hmong have a large extensive family; cousins, aunts, uncles that all can be tapped for labor to help with any farming related challenges.”

Many Hmong have transitioned to other careers. “Not all Hmong are farmers,” notes Vue, himself an engineer, “with many having found work in the high-tech, aerospace, health care and other industries around Puget Sound.”

Those opportunities also raise the question of whether the Hmong will still be a local farming force in the future.

“An overwhelming majority of the younger generation would like to get out of the agricultural tradition,” says Vue. “Children who grew up in a farming family helped out their parents and understand the hard work involved.”

“It is very hard work,” he adds, “having to get up at dawn to go to the farm, pick the flowers/vegetables, sell at the market and then come home.”

The Saturday Speaker Series is a monthly program presented by the Redmond Historical Society on every second Saturday (with the exception of June, July, August and December).  Topics range from local, state and Pacific Northwest historical interest. There is a suggested $5 donation for non-members.

The Redmond Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that receives support from the City of Redmond, 4 Culture, Nintendo, the Bellevue Collection and Humanities Washington as well as from other donors and members.

(Pike Place Market photo courtesy of the Hmong Association of Washington.)