First Hmong-owned certified organic farm in Minnesota embraces entrepreneurship

Minnesota Now

The desire to own a business runs strong throughout American history. “Entrepreneur. Americans have fallen in love with this French noun,” write two historians in their book about entrepreneurship. Much of the dynamism in our neighborhoods and communities comes from entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Among them is Mhonpaj Lee Vang and her family. She and her mother own Mhonpaj Garden, the first Hmong-owned certified organic farm in Minnesota with five acres in Stillwater and four acres in Marine on St. Croix. She also owns 22 farming acres in Hugo. Mhonpaj is a licensed real estate broker, real estate developer and, more recently, program host on Hmong TV.

MPR’s senior economics contributor Chris Farrell caught up with Mhonpaj in White Bear Lake.