Ithaca, NY – Assemblymember Anna Kelles and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today announced a $650,000 grant to Khuba International, a nonprofit organization that uplifts families and farmers who have been historically and systematically disadvantaged in both accessing and cultivating farmland. The funds will support the construction of a commercial kitchen and expand farmstay infrastructure at The Learning Farm, a former dairy farm turned agritourism and educational center that focuses on uplifting socioeconomically disadvantaged populations through immersive farm experiences, offering culturally relevant food and fostering sustainable practices.

Khuba International has launchedinitiatives like The Learning Farm which provides youth and family education scholarship programs, Ubuntu Library that builds the home libraries of young people with high quality culturally engaged literature, and the Quarter Acre for The People project that supports, educates, and empowers Black and Indigenous populations with agricultural skills and resources and access to land and community.

The funds, including $450,000 from Assemblymember Kelles, will build a commercial teaching kitchen on site so that Khuba International’s community hub for culinary education for local farmers and families can be strengthened at the Learning Farm. This award is in addition to the generous award of $200,000 from Speaker Heastie, which supports expanding the farmstay infrastructure, including cabins and tents, on the site. With the kitchen, cabin, and tent builds, Khuba will be able to offer free camping, farm immersive experiences, and cooking education for BIPOC youth and families.

Assemblymember Kelles and Speaker Heastie are acutely aware that the total number of Black-owned farms fell from 32,910 farms in 2017 to 28,723 in 2022 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Census. In light of the declining numbers of Black-owned farms in New York and across the U.S., both Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Kelles have made it a priority to support investing in the critical work being done by Khuba International to uplift Black and Indigenous farmers.

With the development of a commercial teaching kitchen, the farm will be able to benefit the community in two main ways: through nutrition and cooking classes, and by supporting farmers in diversifying their farm products.

The kitchen is expected to open its doors to the public in spring 2025. Families will be able to sign up for cooking classes online, and the focus will be on developing culturally relevant family recipes that also support health and nutrition goals. The 2,000 square-foot commercial kitchen will also offer space for cold storage, so farmers can have a space to store ingredients that can be used to diversify their offerings. The goal is that farmers will be able to develop new products and in turn become more profitable.

For example, Núñez envisions a local production of fermented products, more juice products and healthy lunch box offerings for local youth. Storage for drying mushrooms and space for pickling is also expected.

The funding will also support the farmstay infrastructure, building four cabins, renovating the cottage and erecting ten high-end, canvas “glamping” tents that are expected to be completed in the Spring of 2025. This infrastructure is critical to the farm’s mission to provide an immersive experience on the farm. When people stay on the farm, they learn more about the farming processes, the many ways the farm prioritizes biodiversity, water conservation and sustainable practices and more.

“For years, the Learning Farm has played a critical role in educating the next generation on the importance of agriculture and sustainability,” said Speaker Heastie. “In 2021 I visited the Farm with Assemblymember Kelles to get a firsthand look at the great work this organization is doing for the community. This funding will allow them to expand their reach to cooking and nutrition classes, ensuring our community understands how food connects us together.”

Khuba International Founder and Director Christa Núñez said; “The kitchen build will afford us the opportunity to work with a variety of farmers and food producers who would not ordinarily be able to access a commercial kitchen that is fully stocked with high quality equipment. This will enable us to support our local markets with a broader range of locally produced food. This will also support local purveyors in diversifying their wares in a way that will underscore their economic viability. The farmstay aspect of the award will enable us to invite a broader swath of community members to the farm for farm immersion and a deeper dive into running a farm and learning the various skills it takes to successfully grow food for family and community so this will allow us to be another local hub for food production with a special focus on folks who have not had exposure in farm development and food production.”

Park Foundation Executive Director Rachel Leon said “The Park Foundation is proud to be part of this collaborative effort to support Khuba International’s growth. Though we have supported their programs annually, a Program Related Investment for this expansion will serve as a bridge loan to help Khuba International leverage state funds. We congratulate them on their great work and look forward to seeing their programs grow and evolve and thank Assemblywoman Kelles for her commitment to area nonprofits and those they serve.

Assemblymember Kelles said; “Khuba International is empowering BIPOC children, farmers and farming communities in our region to learn the ins and outs of sustainable farming and grow their farming community and build critical connections. This funding will allow Khuba International to continue their educational programming, as well as equip them to offer more farming opportunities and access to culinary experiences. I can think of no better recipient of these funds than this amazing organization, whose mission to uplift historically disadvantaged and underserved farmers is enabling them to not only succeed but thrive. I look forward to seeing the organization expand their programming and outreach to the BIPOC community locally and throughout the state.”

Gloria Coicou, Chief Equity and Engagement Officer of the Community Foundation of Tompkins County said; “As a community partner and local funder, we are deeply committed to efforts by all to advance food justice, equity, and access within our community and to supporting Khuba International more specifically. The construction of a commercial teaching kitchen at the Learning Farm is a powerful step toward creating opportunities for farmers and community members to engage in meaningful culinary education.

 Expanding the Farmstay infrastructure will provide children, especially those from underserved communities, with the chance to participate in immersive farm experiences at no cost. This initiative is not just about education; it’s about ensuring that every child has access to the knowledge and skills needed to understand and influence our food systems.

The Community Foundation of Tompkins County has been a steadfast advocate for Khuba International, and we believe that by working together, we can create a more equitable and inclusive food system. This partnership reflects our commitment and shared vision of fostering greater participation in the food system and empowering our community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”