Amar’e Stoudemire, assistant coach of the Brooklyn Nets, samples one of his own signature Stoudemire Farms burgers at his booth at the Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan, Oct. 15, 2021. (Julia Gergely)

By Julia Gergely October 18, 2021

(New York Jewish Week via JTA) — On an unusually hot day in mid-October, Amar’e Stoudemire stopped by the Union Square Greenmarket to meet New York basketball lovers and burger fans alike.

The former NBA star and current Brooklyn Nets assistant coach was helping staff a booth at the Manhattan farmers’ market, where customers were able to pick up fresh brisket, steaks, burger patties and condiments from Stoudemire Farms, his family-run farm in Duchess County, New York that ethically and sustainably raises Black Angus cattle.

The meat, however, is not certified kosher, unlike the wines he produces in Israel at Kfar Tikva, a winery that employs individuals with developmental disabilities. (The winery’s website describes the African-American athlete as the “first kosher winemaker of color.”) Stoudemire became an Israeli citizen in March 2019 and completed his conversion to Judaism in August 2020.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

In 2020 Stoudemire helped Maccabi Tel Aviv win the Israel Basketball Premier League Championship. He also co-owns the Israeli basketball team Hapoel Jerusalem, where he played the 2016-’17 and 2018-’19 seasons.

The cattle farm, which has been in operation since 2015, has had a booth at the Union Square Greenmarket every Friday since June.

He is currently pursuing his MBA at the University of Miami while running Stoudemire Farms, which he founded in order to “create a legacy for his children, and to raise awareness of the importance of building intergenerational wealth in the African American community,” he writes in a letter on the farm’s website. “We’ve dedicated nearly 200 acres to teaching the next generation about the legacy inherent in land ownership and the dignity in reclaiming food sovereignty.”

On Oct. 15, fans steadily lined up for a selfie with Stoudemire and a taste of his signature Stoudemire Burger. Ground beef patties, grilled by Chef Jay Kumar of Jay’s Brooklyn, were dressed with a secret sauce that included garlic, ginger, cumin and fennel, and served atop a toasted English muffin baked by Dam Good English Muffins.

Why an English muffin instead of a traditional burger bun? “I tried a burger on an English muffin once and fell in love with it. It’s the best way to eat a burger,” Stoudemire told a customer.

— The post Amar’e Stoudemire — player, coach, kosher winemaker — adds ‘farmer’ to his list of post-basketball careers appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount