Uhuru Pies: Holiday tradition returns to St. Pete

ST. PETERSBURG – Throughout November and December, volunteers in St. Petersburg  will bake and distribute hundreds of delicious, fresh-baked Uhuru Pies to benefit the independent/black community-based economic development programs of Black Star Industries (BSI).

A progressive holiday tradition since 1981, Uhuru Pies are handcrafted with quality natural ingredients. Tampa Bay residents look forward to these world-famous apple crumb, pecan, chocolate pecan, sweet potato, pumpkin and top-crusted Africa shaped apple pies.

Named for the Swahili word for “freedom,” Uhuru Foods & Pies is a part of the BSI, a global economic initiative to reclaim the prosperity and self-determination of African people worldwide.

Uhuru Pies contributes to BSI’s array of African-owned economic projects such as Planet Uhuru apparel, Burning Spear Media, and One Africa One Nation Marketplaces.

BSI partners with the African People’s Education and Defense Fund, a non-profit organization that is changing lives through critically needed programs such as the TyRon Lewis Community Fitness Gym and Wellness Program, free Halloween Haunted Festival in south St. Pete, the Uhuru Jiko Community Commercial Kitchen for culinary entrepreneurs and the forthcoming African Independence Workforce Program to provide training and employment for formerly incarcerated African men and women.

Ona Zene Yeshitela, director of BSI, said: “This is about African people coming together to meet the needs of all our people everywhere for prosperity, decent housing, health and the ability to contribute to the development and well-being of our people and society. All people can support the vision of independent economic development for African people.”

The nine-inch deep-dish pies are priced between $10-$20 and come in apple, apple crumb, pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan and chocolate pecan. All Uhuru pies now come in an individual five- inch size.

Pickup in St. Pete/Pinellas area locations is available between Nov. 14-25 and Dec. 18-24 (see uhurupies.org for locations, dates and times). Delivery is available for orders of 10 or more pies.

Uhuru Pies invites everyone to sell pies to friends, family and coworkers; you can organize a pie tasting at job sites, schools or place of worship, which can be scheduled for groups throughout November and December. We are a volunteer-powered organization.

To order, volunteer or host a pie tasting, go to www.uhurupies.org. Email stpete@uhurupies.org or call 888-519-4022 for more information.

Co-sponsored by the non-profit African People’s Education and Defense Fund and Uhuru Foods & Pies/Black Star Industries.