Global Graze 2025

In 2025, Global Graze was created to connect local farmers with restaurants, making it easier for farmers to sell their produce within their communities and strengthen Iowa’s local food system. The event also raised funds for Feed Iowa First’s Equitable Land Access Program, supporting aspiring and underserved farmers through expanded access to land and agricultural opportunities. Explore our farmers’ stories, discover the participating restaurants, and meet the sponsors who helped make Global Graze 2025 possible.

Meet the Farmers

Mari Hunt-Wassink | Black Earth Gardens

Mari, a lifelong resident of Marion, Iowa, first discovered her love for farming while volunteering on a friend’s farm. What started as helping out quickly grew into a passion that deeply connected with her personal values. Wanting to honor her family’s history and give back to her community, Mari founded Black Earth Gardens three years ago. With each season, she grows not only fresh produce but also a vision for the future—one where she hopes to soon cultivate her own land and continue nourishing her community.

Akola Parou | AP Farms

When Akola came to the United States, Iowa was the first place he called home. He stayed with a friend since he didn’t know anyone else. Farming has been part of his life for as long as he can remember—growing up in Togo, where “you eat what you grow,” he learned the value of working the land and feeding the community. After noticing the differences between African and American farming, he decided to bring his lifelong knowledge and passion to his new home. Through AP Farms, he now blends his roots with new techniques, creating a business that grows both food and connection.

Elouth Imani | Afro-Iowa Unity Farms

Elouth arrived in the U.S. from the Democratic Republic of Congo as a refugee, with Iowa becoming the first place he called home—and the place he couldn’t imagine leaving. When he saw the community’s need for fresh African vegetables, he turned that vision into reality by creating Afro-Iowa Unity Farm. His dream was bigger than farming; it was about bringing people together, while using organic farming techniques. Today, Elouth grows both organic American and African produce, using food as a bridge to connect cultures and nourish his community.

Darius Nupolu | Nupolu Emering Farms

Originally from Liberia, Darius Nupolu moved to Iowa in 2017 to continue his agricultural career. A graduate of Feed Iowa First’s Farm Business Incubator, he now runs Nupolu’s Emerging Farms LLC with his wife, Wealee, in Norway, Iowa. They grow organic African crops like cassava leaves and eggplant alongside staples such as tomatoes and cucumbers, selling through HACAP, Field to Family, and local community networks. Darius is dedicated to expanding his farm and providing fresh, culturally relevant food for his community.