What a “Fresh Start” Means for Asli and Isho of Fresh Start Farms

May 22, 2026

What a “Fresh Start” Means for Asli and Isho of Fresh Start Farms

Among the vendors who drew plenty of attention were Asli and Isho of Fresh Start Farms, who have returned from their winter hiatus with fresh vegetables, herbs, and specialty products for the season ahead.

Launched in 2020 by Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success (ORIS), Fresh Start Farms supports New Americans in building sustainable farm businesses rooted in their agricultural traditions and personal ambitions. Farmers receive training, land access, and business support while selling under the Fresh Start Farms brand and keeping 100% of their profits. The initiative not only creates economic opportunity, but also strengthens community connections through locally grown food and environmentally conscious farming practices.

Asli and Isho have been part of our market community for several years, growing produce on their plots at Story Hill Farm. Much of what they bring to market is harvested and packed the very same day. From sunrise to sunset, they balance farming with part-time jobs, growing more than 50 varieties of vegetables and herbs — including specialty crops familiar to African and Asian communities.

Both Asli and Isho bring deep agricultural experience from Somalia, where farming was part of everyday life long before they arrived in New Hampshire. Because of the war, they were forced to flee Somalia to Kenya, where they spent more than a decade living in a refugee camp before eventually resettling in the United States. Today, they combine generations of agricultural knowledge with years of experience adapting and farming in New England. Alongside familiar market vegetables, they also grow culturally significant crops such as sawa sawa, African eggplant, and amaranth — ingredients that connect them to home while introducing many customers to new flavors and traditions. Their resilience, commitment, and care for the land are evident in every harvest they bring to market.

Still, this season has brought new challenges.

“Farming has changed since last year,” Isho shared, “but the spirit of planting and providing the community with healthy, fresh produce hasn’t.”

Recent funding cuts to Fresh Start Farms have significantly reduced staffing and services available to farmers. According to farm coach Jean, the organization’s support team has shrunk from five staff members to two, and the Concord office has closed in an effort to manage limited resources. Farmers are increasingly being asked to take on responsibilities outside their expertise while continuing to manage their farms independently.

Despite these setbacks, innovation and passion continue to drive the work forward. This year, Isho is especially excited to introduce blueberry jam made from Fresh Start Farms blueberries grown in Boscawen, as well as tomato salsa produced in partnership with the Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center. Customers can also look forward to red turnips, Chinese cabbage, fresh herbs, and other specialty produce throughout the season.

Fresh Start Farms is also implementing more sustainable irrigation practices this year, transitioning from overhead watering systems to drip irrigation to improve efficiency, conserve water, and increase crop quality.

Jean hopes market guests will continue to support farmers like Asli and Isho not only because of the quality of their produce, but because of the care and expertise behind it.

“Most of these farmers have been farming since they were children,” Jean explained. “Their professionalism is incredibly high. They grow everything with great love and effort, and while we are not certified organic, our produce is grown using organic practices. Come taste the difference.”

We are honored to have Asli, Isho, and the Fresh Start Farms community as part of our market family and encourage guests to stop by their booth this season to learn more, try something new, and support their work.

Check out the Fresh Start Farms recipe page to spark your culinary imagination when trying sawa sawa or amaranth.