When one thinks of New York City, one does not think of agriculture. When one thinks of Hispanic farm workers, Hispanic owned and/or managed farms do not immediately come to mind.

They all come together, however, in Andy Newman''s "Immigrants Glimpse Greener Acres" (New York Times, October 7, 2000), as yet another example of a business facing labor shortages and the steps it is taking to solve the problem.

Greenmarket, which operates farmers'' markets throughout the city, could significantly expand their number but for the shortage of farmers to supply them. There have not been enough new people going into farming to replace those who have left.

Following the lead of Washington, Massachusetts and Louisiana, Greenmarket has joined with the state agricultural department to lure immigrants to farming in a program giving loans from the Federal Farm Service Agency of up to $200,000, matching a $3,000-$5,000 investment from the new farmer.

Applicants must have a business plan and agricultural education or experience. Possible candidates include a cattleman from the Dominican Republic (now an office cleaner), a Colombian agronomist (waiter), an Ecuadorian cane farmer (salad chef), a Peruvian agricultural teacher (crossing guard), and a Colombian organic farming expert and a Colombian veterinarian (both construction workers).