A Kenyan couple, Charles and Truphena Choti, are earning big from growing indigenous vegetables in the US, preserving their culture, and promoting food security for thousands of Africans living in the US.
On their Afrithrive Cultural Farm in Poolesville, Maryland, Prof. Choti and his wife grow a wide variety of traditional African vegetables including managu (African nightshade), mrenda (jute mallow), Kunde (cowpea leaves), terere (amaranth), sagaa (spider plant) and misheveve (pumpkin leaves).
These vegetables are known for their nutritional value and are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, contributing to overall health and disease prevention.
Choti’s farm has not only become the go-to for Kenyans seeking a taste of African cuisine but also for thousands of Africans who want to experience a taste of home away from home.
The vegetables are distributed through farmers’ markets, food banks, and community-supported agriculture programmes.
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Who is Charles Choti?
Professor Charles Choti is a Kenyan academic and public health expert with a reputable career in research, community service, and humanitarian work.
Born and raised in Kisii-Kenya, Charles Choti began his education in Kenya, where he completed his early and secondary schooling.
He later pursued undergraduate studies at Egerton University before relocating to the United States for further studies.
In the U.S, he earned a master’s degree in public health and later a PhD in Public Health from Walden University.
He started his career in the US, and served in various roles within U.S.-based institutions and international NGOs, focusing on the health and social well-being of African immigrants and refugee communities.
Prof. Choti later founded AFRI Thrive Inc., a nonprofit organisation that supports African immigrant families through nutrition, education, and health support programmes.
“Having worked and grown up in Africa, I needed something that could connect me to the African continent and provide hope to others when they have challenges,” Truphena shared in her previously recorded YouTube interview.
The organisation’s flagship initiative, the AFRI Thrive Cultural Farm, grows African vegetables ensuring food security and promoting healthy eating among underserved African families in the U.S.
