After a last freelance in Israel last season, with Maccabi Tel Aviv where he won the title and even the MVP trophy of the Final, Amar’e Stoudemire decided to cross the fence.
On the one hand, he agreed to join Steve Nash’s staff at the Nets as a coach assigned to individual player development, but on the other hand, he also decided to get into farming. And more precisely in the production of eco-responsible meat, at this stage, mainly beef.
“I have a green thumb”, he assures the financial magazine Barron’s. “I’m definitely doing my hours helping on the farm. You have to learn how to operate machines, like the tractor, learn to know the terrain, how to beat the herd, how to repair the barriers, how to store the hay in the barn. There is a lot to learn but it’s something that I like. “
Owner of more than 80 hectares of land in the countryside north of New York, in Dutchess County, Stoudemire finally wanted to close the loop. Inspired by the environment in which he grew up in Florida, notably on his grandfather’s farm in Lake Wales, the former Suns All Star wanted to reconnect with the culture of the land.
“We had all kinds of fruit trees, from peaches to vines to pomegranates.”, adds Stoudemire. “My grandfather was also a great fisherman, so we always had fresh fish to eat. I grew up surrounded by it and when I had the opportunity to buy this land, I wanted to turn it into a productive farm. “
“I’m really into my farm! “
The 2m08 of the former serial dunker can now be seen under the small tent at the “Stoudemire Farms” stand at Union Square Greenmarket, New York’s largest farmers’ market. This is obviously primarily to sell its steaks, flank steaks and bits of breasts, but also to take up the partially extinguished torch of black American farmers.
From a million a century ago, there are only 50,000 today because of “historic discrimination within the Department of Agriculture,” says Democratic senator Cory Booker, who wants to pass a law to help a new generation of black American farmers emerge.
“I started to read more about the plight of these farmers who were abused when some new laws came out. It became very interesting for me to show my head and prove that there are still African Americans who are still passionate about agriculture. “
Having missed the opening of the “green market” of Union Square, Stoudemire is full of ideas to make up for lost time, with a “meet and greet” during the summer but also courses – cooking demonstrations to taste your meat Black Angus certified.
“I’m really into my farm! I want to make sure that I am building the foundation correctly to make it easier for my children to pass when they are of working age. “
