Sept. 24, 2020
Wake County communities of faith are partnering with local farmers of color in a new community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, and a group of faith community partners is currently forming in Wake County.
Farmers of color continue to endure systemic racism within the food system that causes significant and consistent social, economic, and political harm. These farmers often have less access to markets, fewer beneficial relationships, and fewer financial resources and opportunities. All this results in higher rates of debt, lower agricultural land ownership rates, and fewer farmers of color who are able to keep their farms.
Through the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), farmers of color partner with faith communities and their members who choose to participate in this CSA program. It provides many benefits: market for the farmers, locally produced food that’s healthy for the members, and a smaller carbon footprint for the planet.
Congregation-based CSAs can create new opportunities, markets, and long-term sustainable relationships that serve the economic interests of farmers of color in North Carolina, especially women farmers of color; they also provide locally produced, healthy food to members of the congregations who choose to participate.
Learn more about the CSA program
Learn more about RAFI
A group of faith community partners, currently forming in Wake County, held an online Zoom meeting on September 24. If you think your faith community might be interested in participating in the CSA program, please contact Gary Smith at Community United Church of Christ in Raleigh.
Jarred White, staff member at RAFI, led the organizational meeting. Jarred serves as the Program Coordinator for the Rural Faith Community Organizing Initiative, as part of the Come to the Table Program. Prior to joining RAFI, Jarred worked as the Service and Outreach Coordinator at North Raleigh Community Church, helping to organize and lead several racial justice-based initiatives and programs. He holds a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School, and as a World Vision Fellow, has coordinated awareness campaigns focusing on migrant farmworker issues.
