USDA undersecretary inspired by farming operations at Jubilee Justice in Alexandria

Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young was energized by what she saw happening with the non-profit Jubilee Justice and their farming operation on the Old Baton Rouge Highway south of Alexandria.

Jacobs-Young, the USDA undersecretary for research, education and economics and USDA’s Chief Scientist, was in Alexandria for the Louisiana Small Farmers Conference sponsored by the Southern University Agricultural Rease and Extension Center. She was inspired to visit the farm and learn more about it's operations after one of her staff researched and found out about it.

“They were really thrilled to see all the work that we've done as Jubilee Justice in the last 3 1/2 years that we've been here in Louisiana,” said Konda Mason, founder and president.

“We've got to grow more food and being on a on a farm where they're using sustainable practices, where they're thinking constructively about climate change, about how to innovate, what type of management practices are going to lead to their resilience and diversifying their land and more importantly, feeding people. I'm just excited and I'm looking forward to partnering with this farm,” said Jacobs-Young.

Mason moved to Louisiana from California in 2020 to start an experimental project growing rice using the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method. This method uses much less water and fewer seeds than the traditional method of growing rice. It’s also more sustainable and environmentally friendly and much better suited for small farmers. The project turned out to be a success.

Since then, Jubilee Justice has expanded to include a solar powered rice mill and specialty store and an organic vegetable operation.

Mason and the rest of the Justice Jubilee crew started off the the undersecretary’s visit by showing her and her entourage the organic vegetable operation. They also told them about the Alexandria Farmers Market where the vegetables are sold.

“We showed them what we do, what we grow and the different varieties of things that we do that are different than your typical farms,” said Mason.

One of those different things include hibiscus green that are the leaves of the plant that Jacobs-Young and members of her entourage were able to try.

Mason also told Jacobs-Young about the Alexandria Farmers Market accepting SNAP benefits and its $5 Kids Club token program that gives youngsters a $5 token to buy fruits or vegetables from any of the market vendors.

“They were really surprised to hear that and very happy to hear that,” said Mason.

Jacobs-Young was then taken to see the rice growing on an acre of land that they call Black Joy Rice, said Mason.

"That rice is about to harvest in about two weeks and so it was a perfect timing for them to come in to see this beautiful rice,” said Mason.

She found that Jacobs-Young and the others who accompanied her had a wealth of knowledge about rice.

“She was amazing, actually. She knew something about everything we talked about. And she's a scientist. She's the head scientist for the USDA,” said Mason.

Jacobs-Young said hearing Mason talk about innovation, demonstrations and the trial and error in the experiments at the farm is good for the future, especially since it is projected that by 2050 the population will be over 9 billion people.

The last part of the tour included the rice mill. It was deeded to Jubilee Justice by Inglewood Farms. The mill opened earlier in the year and is operated by the non-profit and Black farmers and is the first of its kind in the southeast.

The undersecretary's visit made Mason feel like there was a true interest in what they were doing and in offering support to them, other Black farmers and disadvantaged farmers.

“I felt like there were so many contexts. They just like kept talking and giving us so much information so we will follow through,” said Mason.

Jacobs-Young also unveiled a new USDA initiative at the conference about coordinating all the information from their research on better health and “translating it into digestible nuggets so that the everyday American knows what they can do to be able to improve the quality of life.”

“In some cases, their longevity could prevent chronic diseases and cancer through food and nutrition and healthy lifestyle changes,” she said.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: USDA undersecretary inspired by Jubilee Justice farm in Alexandria