| This study compared Hmong-American and Japanese-American strawberry growers in California's Central Valley through oral histories, interviews, and photographs. Interviews with current farmers were conducted to obtain modern information to compare with historical data gathered from retired growers and oral history accounts. Black and white still photographs taken by the researcher and collected from archive sources serve as points of visual comparison between old and new. A comparison of the two groups suggests that strawberry cultivation is an entrance crop for immigrants with an agricultural background. This study's scope was of a small portion of California. Suggested future studies include Hmong farmers in other investigating states, and methods of strawberry cultivation without chemicals. Chemicals are the sources of fertilizer and pest control in California. |
