Washington D.C. State Coordinator

Yao Afantchao coordinates the SARE program at the University of D.C. Yao is the Ethnic Crop Development Specialist with the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) at the University, working to meet the needs of district's ethnically diverse residents.  He advises food producers and residents on how to grow and cook a variety of healthy and flavorful international crops. He also introduces commercial growers to the expanding high-value marketing opportunities for ethnic produce and alternative crops in the Mid-Atlantic region. Ongoing research in cultivation techniques and plant varieties, including garden eggs, a kind of eggplant, and a hot pepper known as Scotch Bonnet, are also a part of the Ethnic Crops program.