By Bonnie Rukin 

Bonnie Rukin: New Roots was the first immigrant-owned co-op in Maine when its founders created the farm in 2015. How has the farm developed since then? 


Omar Hassan: Since 2015, I’ve had the honor of working closely with the New Roots Cooperative farmers as they’ve grown their dream from an idea into reality. With support from Maine Farmland Trust and the Cooperative Development Institute (CDI), where I serve as a Cooperative Developer, we helped the farmers secure a lease on a 30-acre farm in Lewiston. Over time, they built critical infrastructure, expanded crop varieties, and launched successful CSA programs and market sales. In 2022, after years of hard work and a strong grassroots fundraising campaign, they achieved their dream of purchasing the farm outright. It was a historic moment not only for them, but for Maine’s entire immigrant and refugee community. 

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BR: New Roots farmers are primarily elders who do not speak English. How has this affected their ability to meet farming demands, local market needs, and interact with the communities that they serve? 
OH: Language and cultural barriers have definitely created challenges, especially around paperwork, certifications, and access to funding opportunities. But these farmers bring something incredibly powerful to the table – deep agricultural knowledge and a strong connection to the community they serve. As elders, they carry traditional farming wisdom and are highly respected by their peers. With support from interpreters, trusted staff, and organizations like CDI and United Youth Empowerment Services (UnitedYES), they’ve been able to overcome barriers and meet the unique food needs of local immigrant families. Their work is a cultural and nutritional lifeline. 

BR: What is the current status of the farm? Who is providing staff support? How are national government funding cuts and immigration restrictions affecting the farmers and their ability to provide healthful vegetables to immigrant communities in need of food security? 

OH: Right now, New Roots is facing one of its toughest seasons. We are at risk of losing more than 65 percent of our sales this year alone. We’ve lost our dedicated Farm Coordinator, Mohamed Shick, and we’ve also lost access to critical programs like the Local Food Purchase Assistance program (LFPA), which previously enabled us to provide weekly produce boxes for more than 150 families over a 16-week period. UnitedYES was proud to serve as one of the main delivery sites for this program, helping us reach some of the most food-insecure households in our region. Losing LFPA means losing not just sales, but a vital way of feeding our community. 

There’s also risk of losing core funders like the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation and Natural Resources Conservation Service support. Even though the farmers plan to continue serving eight farmers markets across southern Maine – including Kennebunk, South Portland, Cumberland, Damariscotta, Bath, and Lewiston – market income alone isn’t enough to sustain operations. These markets are crucial for visibility, community connection, and customer education. One of the most important things the public can do to support the farm this year is to sign up for a CSA [community-supported agriculture] share. Buying a share is not just about getting fresh produce – it’s an investment in resilience, equity, and the future of local food in Maine. 

I’ve been with these farmers since 2014 through my work with CDI, and I’m continuing to support them through UnitedYES. These farmers are doing everything they can to keep feeding our communities. But without reliable funding and structural support, we risk losing not just a farm, but a vital community anchor in Maine’s food system. 

BR: Could you reflect on the past and the future of New Roots? 

OH: Back in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 crisis, New Roots Cooperative Farm faced severe disruptions – from canceled celebrations to a sharp drop in CSA sales. Still, the farmers remained resilient, partnering with food pantries like St. Mary’s Nutrition Center and continuing to grow food for the community. Now, five years later, the challenges have shifted but the stakes are just as high. We’ve lost key funding streams, including Local Food Purchase Assistance – which alone helped us feed over 150 families weekly for four months – and long-time grant partners. We’ve also lost our farm coordinator due to financial instability. 

What remains unchanged is the farmers’ deep commitment to food sovereignty and community care. We’re still showing up each week at farmers markets across southern Maine and continuing to offer CSA shares, which are more essential than ever this year. These shares provide critical early-season income and ensure families have consistent access to culturally relevant, nutritious produce. As we enter another uncertain season, we’re asking our community to stand with us again – just like it did during the pandemic.