Ranchitos: Immigrant integration via Latino sustainable agriculture

Abstract

This article investigates the relationships between immigrant integration and agricultural, environmental sustainability. We provide evidence that ranchitos (Mexican-immigrant owned small rural ranches) serve as an important mechanism for immigrant integration as they regenerate place and belonging via their sustainable agricultural practices. Hence, understanding ranchitos’ roles in rural communities provides an essential contribution to Latino studies, as ranchitos highlight important relationships among ethnic cultural practices, environmental sustainability, and immigrant integration. Our findings point to ranchitos reshaping immigrant integration efforts via community economic development, by producing alternative foods and through their placemaking efforts. Latino ranchito owners are creating local added economic value, keeping wealth in the community, encompassing an environmental ethic, and supporting community/cultural assets. Ranchitos’ roles in rural communities make this organic and generative immigrant integration possible by supplementing their formal incomes and supporting the buy local movement, providing safe and healthy food, and recreating a Mexican rural lifestyle.