Professor Charles Choti, a Kenyan academic and public health expert, is minting cash in the United States by turning African indigenous vegetables into a thriving horticulture venture.
By combining his education, professional experience, and cultural heritage, he has established a thriving venture, AFRI Thrive Cultural Farm in Maryland, that supplies traditional vegetables to thousands of Africans living in the U.S.
Based in Poolesville, Maryland, Prof. Choti runs the AFRI Thrive Cultural Farm, a project supplying African traditional vegetables to diaspora communities while promoting food security and cultural preservation.
Educational Background of Charles Choti
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.
Career Journey
Before venturing into agribusiness, Charles Choti built a reputable career in research, community service, and humanitarian work.
He has 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.
Charles Choti is the founder and executive director of AFRI Thrive Inc., a nonprofit organisation that supports African immigrant families through nutrition, education, and health support programmes.
Choti’s organisation is headed by Dr.Truphena Choti, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the organisation.
“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 such as managu, kunde, terere, murenda, okra, and blackjack (Bidens pilosa).
These are distributed through farmers’ markets, food banks, and community-supported agriculture programmes.
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The farm not only fills a market gap for indigenous vegetables in the diaspora but also addresses food insecurity and promotes healthy eating among underserved African families in the U.S.
Gachagua visits Choti’s farm in the US
During a recent visit to the farm, Kenya’s Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua praised the project, calling it a model of diaspora innovation and resilience.
He confirmed that thousands of Kenyans and other Africans flock to Choti’s farm in search of medicinal vegetables grown organically.
“You can take the villager out of the village, but you can’t take the village out of the villager. In the middle of the United States, the villager instinct in me went seeking out my fellow villagers,” Gachagua shared.
“I am very proud of the Kenyan spirit of thriving anywhere in the world and placing our culture and traditional practices at the global stage,” he added.
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Gachagua encouraged Kenyans in the diaspora to support Choti and his family by taking advantage of the farm and consuming the Kenya’s local vegetables.
Family life
Choti is a family man, residing in Maryland with his wife Truphena Choti and children.
Together, they manage the operations of AfriThrive Cultural Farm and participate in community events that promote African traditions.
His wife is actively involved in farm management and community outreach, making the venture a family-led success.
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