RAFI

As policymakers and agricultural institutions look toward solutions for a fractured food system, they would do well to look to Briarwood, where community is the model, and waste has no place.

RAFI mourns the passing of Michael Sligh on November 7, 2025 at home, lovingly cared for by his wife Janet and surrounded by family and friends.  We are honored to have worked with Michael, who was RAFI’s Just Foods Program Director for 29 years.

When you visit Injertia Manases today, you’ll find a thriving nursery filled with lush cacao, citrus, and avocado trees, each one a testament to years of dedication, faith, and resilience.

Today we honor Edna Rodriguez on her last day as RAFI’s Co-Executive Director. For thirteen years, Edna has led with vision and resolve — expanding support for small and underserved farmers across North Carolina, the Southeast, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She strengthened RAFI’s financial and organizational foundations and ensured resources and decision-making moved directly into farmers’ hands. We thank Edna for her leadership, courage, and unwavering belief that all farmers deserve fairness, voice, and choice.