Rural Advancement Foundation International-Usa

TO CHALLENGE THE ROOT CAUSES OF UNJUST FOOD SYSTEMS, SUPPORTING AND ADVOCATING FOR ECONOMICALLY, RACIALLY AND ECOLOGICALLY JUST FARMS COMMUNITIES.

AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT: OUR EXPANDING FARMERS MARKET ACCESS (EFMA) PROJECT COORDINATED TWO FOOD ACCESS INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, FRESH BUCKS AND DOUBLE BUCKS, AT 23 NORTH CAROLINA FARMERS MARKETS, MOBILE MARKETS, AND CO-OP GROCERIES TO IMPROVE FOOD ACCESS AND INCLUSIVITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AS WELL AS, PROVIDE SMALL FARMERS NEW SALE OUTLETS. EFMA PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO MARKET MANAGERS AND WORKS TO DEVELOP, COORDINATE, AND EXPAND DIRECT PRODUCER-TO-CONSUMER MARKETS THAT MAKE LOCALLY PRODUCED FOODS MORE AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE AND SUPPORT FARMERS AND FOOD ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR.IN 2017, RAFI-USA FOUNDED THE FARMERS OF COLOR NETWORK (FOCN) TO MORE INTENTIONALLY SUPPORT BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) FARMERS IN THE SOUTHEAST WITH THE GOALS OF IMPROVING THEIR ECONOMIC VIABILITY, KEEPING THEIR LAND, AND GAINING GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT. IN 2022, FOCN EXPANDED OUR SERVICE REACH TO PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS.FOCN PROVIDES FARMER-LED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, MARKET ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES, WEBINARS, FARM TOURS, NETWORKING EVENTS, AND GATHERINGS TO HIGHLIGHT ANCESTRAL TRADITIONS AND KNOWLEDGE. OUR RESOURCES FOR RESILIENT FARMS PROJECT PROVIDES PLAIN-LANGUAGE INFORMATION, FARMER TRAININGS, AND ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE FOR USDA PROGRAMS THAT WOULD SUPPORT GREATER FARM RESILIENCE FOR FARMERS' OPERATIONS, ESPECIALLY WITHIN RAFI-USA'S FARMERS OF COLOR NETWORK.

FARM ADVOCACY: FARM ADVOCACY PROVIDES ASSISTANCE, DEVELOPS TOOLS AND RESOURCES, AND PROMOTES POLICIES THAT HELP FARMERS ATTAIN GREATER FINANCIAL STABILITY AND ENCOURAGE THRIVING AND SUSTAINABLE SMALL AND MID-SCALE FAMILY FARMS. THE PROGRAM EDUCATES FARMERS ABOUT MANAGING RISK AND EQUIPS THEM TO NAVIGATE FEDERAL FARM PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS FACING FINANCIAL CRISIS AND WHO STAND TO LOSE THEIR FARMS WITHOUT IMMEDIATE SUPPORT.CHALLENGING CORPORATE POWER: CHALLENGING CORPORATE POWER WORKS TO HOLD CORPORATIONS AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE TO CURB THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF LIVESTOCK CONCENTRATION AND BUILD ALTERNATIVE, INCLUSIVE LIVESTOCK ECONOMIES THAT EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTE PROFITS ACROSS FARMERS, RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND CONSUMERS. THE FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECT, CAMPAIGN FOR CONTRACT AGRICULTURE REFORM (CCAR) IS INCLUDED AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM. JUST FOODS: FROM PROMOTING MEANINGFUL STANDARDS FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE, TO PIONEERING NEW STANDARDS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE FOOD SYSTEM, JUST FOODS PROJECTS SEEK TO MAKE FAIR, SUSTAINABLE FARMING A VIABLE CHOICE. PROTECTING AGRICULTURAL GENETIC DIVERSITY IS ALSO ESSENTIAL TO THE VIABILITY OF FAMILY FARMS. THEREFORE, JUST FOODS ADVOCATES FOR FUNDING FOR CLASSICAL BREEDING PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT PUBLICLY-HELD SEEDS AND BREEDS. WITHIN THE JUST FOODS PROGRAM ARE THE PROJECTS: SOUTHERN FARMERS SEED COOPERATIVE AND NC SEED STEWARDS. STRATEGIC PROGRAMMING: RAFI-USA DEVELOPS POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS AND ADVOCATES ON BOTH THE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY LEVELS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR CREATING A FAIRER, MORE JUST AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR ALL. OUR POLICY WORK IS DIRECTLY INFORMED BY STAKEHOLDERS AND THE LESSONS WE LEARN AS WE PROVIDE FARM ADVOCACY, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER SERVICES TO FARMERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS: RAFI PROVIDES FISCAL SPONSORSHIP SERVICES TO HELP FACILITATE THE MISSION-RELATED WORK OF PARTNER INITIATIVES THAT LACK THE LEGAL STATUS OR ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY NECESSARY TO RECEIVE GRANTS OR DONATIONS. RAFI SERVES AS FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE FOLLOWING GROUPS:-DURHAM FARMERS MARKET'S DOUBLE BUCKS PROGRAM - DOUBLE BUCKS IS AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM AT THE DURHAM FARMERS' MARKET THAT PROVIDES DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR MATCHING FUNDS FOR PURCHASES MADE WITH SNAP, WIC FMNP, AND SENIOR FMNP BENEFITS.-CAMPAIGN FOR CONTRACT AGRICULTURE REFORM - CCAR IS A NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO PROVIDE A VOICE FOR MEMBERS AND RANCHERS INVOLVED IN CONTRACT AGRICULTURE, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE.-NATIONAL ORGANIC COALITION (NOC) IS A NATIONAL COALITION THAT WORKS ON POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVOCACY TO ENSURE STRONG ORGANIC STANDARDS THAT MAGNIFY THE VARIOUS HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCTION.

COME TO THE TABLE: COME TO THE TABLE IS A MULTI-FACED PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS FAITH COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATION OF A JUST FOOD SYSTEM THROUGH COLLABORATION, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND ADVOCACY. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH FAITH COMMUNITIES, HUNGER RELIEF ADVOCATES AND FARMERS AND DELIVERS CONFERENCES AND EVENTS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING FOCUSED ON BUILDING EQUITY IN THE FOOD SYSTEM, AND COLLABORATE NETWORKS AND RESOURCES, AND SCHOOL FOR FOOD JUSTICE, FAITH AND STORYTELLING.