Eva Clayton Rural Food Institute connects farmers, families, and policymakers to build a fair, sustainable, and thriving food system where small and historically underrepresented farmers can grow, and where every rural community can access healthy, dignified, and affordable food.

The Story Behind the Eva Clayton Rural Food Institute

Learn the story behind the Eva Clayton Rural Food Institute and the legacy that continues to shape food equity and rural opportunity across North Carolina. This video highlights how her vision became a shared mission.

Mission Statement

The Eva Clayton Rural Food Institute advances food equity and rural prosperity by cultivating resources, education, advocacy, and policy that empower small farmers, strengthen local food systems, and honor the enduring leadership of Congresswoman Eva M. Clayton.

Vision Statement

We envision rural communities thriving, with small farmers supported, families nourished, and policies reflecting the values of opportunity, sustainability, and shared prosperity championed by Eva Clayton.
Core Values
Farming as the foundation we recognize that community well-being begins with those who grow our food.
Core Values
Rural food leadership elevating rural communities as innovators and leaders in food systems change.
Core Values
Opportunity, dignity, and inclusion centering those historically excluded and ensuring every voice is valued.
Core Values
Healthy food, healthy communities promoting nutrition, wellness, and connection through local food.
Core Values
Strong community voices creating pathways for rural residents to lead and advocate for themselves.
Core Values
Environmental sustainability protecting land, water, and air as sacred resources for generations.
Core Values
Legacy and leadership living the courage, service, and integrity modeled by Congresswoman Clayton.

About Us

The Eva Clayton Rural Food Institute builds upon the vision and leadership of Congresswoman Eva M. Clayton and the Board of Directors, whose decades of service and advocacy have transformed the landscape of food equity and rural development. Her ongoing dedication continues to guide and inspire the institute’s mission to strengthen farmers and communities across NC.

Our Leadership

Former Congresswoman Eva Clayton

Founder

Eva M. Clayton is a pioneering public servant whose career has strengthened rural communities, advanced food security, and expanded opportunities for underserved populations. She represented North Carolina’s First Congressional District for ten years, the first Black woman to do so, after previously serving as Chair of the Warren County Board of Commissioners and as North Carolina’s Assistant Secretary for Natural Resources and Community Development. In Congress, she championed legislation supporting families, education, nutrition, rural development, and small and Black farmers, and secured major resources for her district, including funding to rebuild Princeville after severe flooding. She later served as Assistant Director‑General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, helping build global partnerships to reduce hunger and poverty. In retirement, she continues to focus on hunger, civic engagement, youth leadership, and rural development, lending her name and leadership to the Eva Clayton Rural Food Institute. A woman of many historic firsts, she was married to Attorney Theaoseus Clayton Sr. for 63 years and is the mother of four adult children and grandmother of six.

Earline Middleton

Executive Director

Earline E. Middleton serves as Executive Director of the Eva Clayton Rural Food Institute, where she leads efforts to strengthen a fair and sustainable rural food system by supporting small and underrepresented farmers, expanding access to nutritious food, and advancing rural economic growth. She brings more than three decades of experience from the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, where she served as Vice President of Partner Services and Public Policy and played a key role in advancing anti‑hunger legislation, strengthening federal nutrition programs, and expanding child nutrition initiatives such as Kids Café and Summer Meals. Known for her collaborative leadership, she created Talking Councils to build communication and capacity among partner agencies. At ECRFI, Earline continues her commitment to rural communities by working with farmers, partners, and policymakers to remove barriers and build a more equitable food ecosystem. She serves on multiple statewide councils, including the Kerr‑Tar Food Council, the Food is Medicine Coalition, the NC Benefits Coalition, the CEFS Advisory Council, and the NC Local Food Advocacy Coalition. 

Board of Directors

Board Officers

Chair – Patrick Brown

Vice Chair – Diane Cox

Treasurer – Keith Purvis

Secretary – Dr. Michelle Schroeder-Moreno

Members-at-Large

Aaron Cohen

Ruby Gerald  

Dr. Noah Ranells

Juvencio Rocha-Peralta

Dr. Norbert Wilson

 

Our Service Footprint

The Institute delivers programs and support across a broad regional network of North Carolina counties:

  • Franklin
  • Granville
  • Person
  • Vance
  • Warren
  • Edgecombe
  • Halifax
  • Nash
  • Northampton
  • Wilson
  • Beaufort
  • Bertie
  • Hertford
  • Martin
  • Pitt

Together, these communities form the foundation of our mission to strengthen rural and underserved regions.

Support Us

Support our work and donate to ECRFI! 

Your generosity goes toward building a fair, sustainable, and thriving food system for everyone. 

Thank you for believing in ECRFI and investing in your local community.

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