Telling the tale of an immigrant who comes from his native country to work as a farmer in a metropolis full to bursting with skyscrapers and vehicles would seem to be a fictional fantasy, but for Mexican immigrant Sergio Nolasco, it is not. Even more, in New York City, in the place he might least have expected it, he has fulfilled his dream of continuing his ancestors' traditions of cultivating the earth.

Nolasco, 35, spent his childhood helping his parents work a farm in the Mexican state of Puebla, where they grew sugar cane, corn, chili peppers and tomatoes. When he arrived to New York, he was 14 and started to work as a day laborer and worked at a variety of jobs, ranging from clothing packager to truck driver.

Nolasco married Paz Jiménez, and they had four children. He always went to buy groceries from farmers at green markets, a habit which marked out his destiny.

“I went to the green markets, but I never found the Mexican products people are accustomed to eating in my country, like hot chili peppers, pápalos and apasotes. I went every week and always found corn, beets and lettuce, but there was always something missing, and that's how I got interested in becoming part of the markets, becoming a farmer in order to bring our kinds of products to the Latino community,” Nolasco explained.

In 2003, he and his wife participated in a course offered by the Agriculture Department to develop new agriculture markets through the New Farmer Market Development Program. It was in this course that he learned about government regulations and how to get plots of ground where crops could be cultivated.

“I started out with three acres, and now I'm cultivating 14. It's been five years and, with God's blessing, it's gone very well. I have three employees working with me and my wife and children help me. I harvest 40 different agricultural products. I have seven varieties of chili peppers, including jalapeños, serranos, poblanos, and habaneros. I also grow tomatoes, lettuce, and auyamas[type of squash],” said Nolasco.

The farmer, whose plot of land is in New Jersey, explained further that in the winter he has to prepare the ground and order the seeds and fertilizers, so that everything will be ready when planting season rolls around.

“I know there are many people who would like to be doing what I am doing, not because of the business end of it, but because the lifestyle is healthier, more sane and relaxed, even though in summertime we work very hard.” said Nolasco.

For anyone who wants to become a farmer, Nolasco counsels that first they should acquire some knowledge about planting and cultivating fruits and vegetables. As well, they should then take part in a New Farmer Development Project workshop, a program which helps people find farm plots to rent.

“Renting an acre of ground is not expensive – it costs $200 to $500 a year. I pay $500 an acre. The upsides are good,” opined Nolasco, who has five stands at New York farmers' markets.