Mrs. Malande is the energetic woman you may have met at the New North End Farmers Market or the Winooski Farmers Market. She is the mother of seven brilliant children, and also the proprietor of Fatuma Samosa and Farm. Mrs. Malande come to the U.S. in 2004 as a Somali Bantu refugee after eight years in a refugee camp in Kenya.
Mrs. Malande is an outstanding beneficiary of AALV’s New Farms for New Americans (NFNA) program. She participated at the second level for three years, receiving free land, technical assistance and support at farmers markets. During this time she won the Holly D. Miller Award from the Vermont Women’s Foundation for her entrepreneurial success.
This year Mrs. Malande is at level three of NFNA, meaning she is financially self-sufficient except for some limited cost share support for capital supplies. She also receives continuing technical assistance from NFNA. Fatuma, we have not doubt, will have a growing business for years to come. She has built her English language skills to a very high level and puts so much hard work into her farm, cooking and sales. The money she earns goes straight to supporting her children and their basic needs. What a role model! Please consider supporting her at farmers market, or have her cater your event. Please also let us know if you would like a tour of her ½ acre farm at the Intervale, as she would be very happy to show you around.
NFNA contact: Alisha (802) 343-7007. Alaramee.nfna@gmail.com
