Natural Plants Healthy Food is owned and operated by farmers Toto Alimasi and Fatuma Rukundo. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Toto Alimasi began his career as a high school French teacher. He later became heavily involved in human rights activism in his community. In part due to his advocacy work, Alimasi, Fatuma, and their family fled DRC for Uganda in the early 2000s. While in Uganda, they learned many of the market farming techniques that enable them to serve Houstonians today. They were granted permanent resettlement in the U.S. in 2011. Today they are proud to call Houston home.

Alimasi speaks English, Swahili, French, Lingala, and Fuliiru. Fatuma speaks What he most loves about Houston is “the welcoming people and the community around my children’s school.” His favorite thing about farming is to see the culmination of his hard work through harvesting and sharing a meal of food he grew himself with his family. Alimasi and Fatuma farm at PIF Westbury. You can purchase their produce through our Farm Share.

Press: Waste Land, Promised Land (Orion Magazine), After Harvey, Resettled Refugees Who Found Opportunity Farming Rebuild Again (The Urban Edge), This Refugee Family Fled Congo. In Houston They Grow Organic Vegetables (Houston Chronicle).