Shun Kuang Nursery
SIZE:
10 acres
YEARS IN BUSINESS:
35 years
PRODUCTS:
Pumpkin, winter melon, yam leaves, yardlong beans, and pea tips
MARKETS:
Independent grocery stores, wholesale
COUNTY:
Santa Clara
Mandy Kuang’s farming journey began in 1989 when she immigrated to the United States to join her husband, Shun Yu Kuang, working on his sister’s flower farm. Without any formal agricultural training, Mandy and Shun Yu learned the ropes by spending 2-3 years helping on the farm. This experience eventually led them to lease 5 acres in Morgan Hill to start their own flower farm. Initially farming in open fields and doing everything by hand, their hard work paid off, allowing them to purchase the 5 acres they had been cultivating.
Motivated by the prospect of a brighter future, the Kuang’s expanded their operation by purchasing an additional 5 acres. Their farm produced a variety of flowers, including chrysanthemum, statice, solidago, leptospermum, and Veronica, with 60% of their crop sold to Costco due to its stable prices.
In 2019, the Kuang’s transitioned to cultivating and selling Asian vegetables. They now lease out 5 acres of their land while continuing to farm on the remaining 5 acres. Instead of prioritizing cash crops, they focus on growing crops they enjoy, such as pumpkin, winter melon, yam leaves, and pea tips, which they share with friends and family.