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 COORDINATES 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. FOCN PROVIDES FARMER-LED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, MARKET ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES, WEBINARS, FARM TOURS, NETWORKING EVENTS, AND GATHERINGS TO HIGHLIGHT ANCESTRAL TRADITIONS AND KNOWLEDGE.IN 2020, FOCN ENTERED INTO THE SARE PROJECT, NAVIGATING FARM FINANCIAL & MENTAL HEALTH CRISES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE LAND LOSS PREVENTION PROJECT, THE NORTH CAROLINA AGROMEDICINE INSTITUTE, AND THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY AND FUNDED BY SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH & EDUCATION (SARE) TO REDUCE THE LOSS OF FARMS AND LIVES BY RESEARCHING AND TESTING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE INFORMATION AND INFORMATION DELIVERY THAT ADDRESSES THE COMBINED FINANCIAL, LAND TENURE, AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FACED BY FARM FAMILIES IN SEVERE FINANCIAL DISTRESS.

COME TO THE TABLE: COME TO THE TABLE IS A MULTI-FACED PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS TO FOOD ACCESS THAT ALSO STRENGTHEN JUST AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH FAITH COMMUNITIES, HUNGER RELIEF ADVOCATES AND FARMERS TO ENGAGE AND MOBILIZE THEM ON ISSUES OF FOOD ACCESS AND JUSTICE IN THE FOOD SYSTEM. THE PROGRAM DELIVERS CONFERENCES AND EVENTS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING FOCUSED ON BUILDING EQUITY IN THE FOOD SYSTEM, AND COLLABORATE NETWORKS AND RESOURCES.

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:-NATIONAL ORGANIC COALITION- NOC IS A NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO PROVIDE A "WASHINGTON VOICE" FOR FARMERS, RANCHERS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS, CONSUMERS AND INDUSTRY MEMBERS INVOLVED IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE.-DURHAM FARMERS MARKET'S DOUBLE BUCKS PROGRAM-DOUBLE BUCKS IS AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM AT THE DURHAM FARMERS' MARKET THAT PROVIDES UP TO $10 IN MATCHING FUNDS PER CUSTOMER FOR PURCHASES MADE WITH SNAP 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.

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: FARMERS OF COLOR NETWORK AND EXPANDING FARMERS MARKET ACCESS.