by Wanda Perez, Farm Programs Director, Puerto Rico FSA
Rebecca Feliciano and Jimmy Delgadillo wanted a bigger farm that would allow them to grow a crop that could benefit their Puerto Rican community and also provide them financial stability.
Four years ago — while Rebecca worked as an attorney and Jimmy an engineer — the pair purchased a small farm where they planted oranges and plantains. The economic downturn cost both of them their jobs so they decided to go into farming full-time.
Although they had experience working the land, they wanted to build an operation with a crop that is not traditionally grown in Puerto Rico and that would challenge their professional knowledge. After much research, they found that Puerto Rico’s mushroom market was the perfect match. With low supply on the island and high demand for the product, the couple decided to have a mushroom farm.
Rebecca and Jimmy went to several private banks looking for financial assistance to acquire property and develop the farming operation. Since it was a new operation, it presented a high risk for most private banks, leaving Rebecca and Jimmy to seek alternative means of funding.
Surfing the Internet led the farmers to the Farm Service Agency Barranquitas Field Office. They qualified for a farm ownership and operating loan and also received an FSA guaranteed operating loan through the Puerto Rico state government bank.
“We are very satisfied with FSA’s assistance,” said Rebecca. “FSA is a great support to Puerto Rico agriculture and its farmers.”
