Maendeleo Farm Wholesale, specialty African crops
Munyambaraga Shabagwe
Maendeleo Farm is owned and operated by Munyambaraga Shabagwe. Farming on three acres in the Intervale and at his home in Colchester, Shabagwe grows eggplant, beans, tomatoes, spinach, blueberries and garlic.
Originally from Congo and then spending 20 years as a refugee in Uganda, Shabagwe has been farming since he was 18 years old. In Africa he grew cabbage, eggplant, beans, and corn. When he arrived in Vermont, Shabagwe wanted to continue farming and sharing his skill and experience in this new community. He began growing in the New Farms for New Americans fields at the Ethan Allen Homestead. In 2023 he expanded his growing space on leased Intervale Center land.
He now sells garlic at City Market and other produce to the local Vermont community; he also sells to markets out of state looking for the specialty African crops he grows.