Rufino has farmed since he was a child in Oaxaca, Mexico, always knowing family to be synonymous with growing food. Now running his own vegetable operation near Hollister, Rufino continues to lift up family, whether helping new farmers seeking advice or providing for the livelihood of his wife and children. Since completing ALBA’s PEPA program several years ago, Rufino has often had to farm in survival mode. Land access struggles coupled with cash flow challenges stemming from the hardships of 2020 have inundated him. Yet his spirit remains unbroken and his collaborators at Kitchen Table Advisors work to surround him with the emotional support and resources he needs to continue farming, including a much-needed favorable land lease renewal and the addition of new buyer relationships.