Greenfield’s Just Roots names pair of executive directors
Published: 01-16-2025 1:36 PM
Modified: 01-16-2025 6:33 PM |
GREENFIELD — Just Roots, a local farming and food access nonprofit, has two new executive directors.
Meryl LaTronica and Joshua Faller took the reins Dec. 1 and have spent the past month and a half getting acclimated to their new roles.
“We have a lot of depth in our teams — a lot of skills and talent,” LaTronica said.
The pair will focus on strengthening partnerships with local farmers and food access organizations to increase the availability of fresh produce throughout Massachusetts; expanding food access initiatives for low-income households; addressing systemic challenges to food security with community-driven solutions; and advocating for state and regional policies that support food justice and sustainable agriculture.
Late last year, Just Roots received a $3,000 state grant to fund its Food Access for Youth & Families Program, enabling the farm to further its mission of improving food access through subsidized farm shares and operational support.
“The work has never been more important,” Faller said, citing the high cost of food and inequity in acquiring it.
He said Just Roots adopted the co-executive director model to build resilient and collaborative leadership, leverage diverse expertise, and ensure sound decision-making as the organization grows and evolves.
According to a statement from Just Roots, Faller has been at the forefront of the organization’s efforts to tackle systemic barriers to food security. He has expertise in data-driven program management and has helped shape high-impact initiatives, such as expanding food access programs for Medicaid patients and scaling community-supported agriculture programs to reach those most in need. He started at Just Roots in the role of program manager.
Article continues after...
Yesterday's Most Read Articles
“We’re really standing on the shoulders of giants,” Faller, 46, said in praise of his predecessors. The previous executive director, Laura Fisher, reportedly stepped down in June following an unexpected loss in her family.
“We are grateful for her leadership and the impact she had on our organization, and we wish her all the best,” Faller said of Fisher.
LaTronica, 45, is entering her ninth year at Just Roots, having started as a director of farm operations.
“It’s really fun. It’s really supportive,” she said, “and it’s a nice feel to grow somewhere.”
According to a statement from Just Roots, LaTronica has spent the past eight years combining her knowledge of sustainable agriculture with a passion for strengthening local food systems to drive change at the organization.
“2024 was a busy year for Just Roots. After a period of major growth and change, we embarked on a deep organizational assessment to prepare for our next executive director. In the end, we discovered the talent we needed was in our own backyard,” Donna Dusell, president of Just Roots’ board of directors, said in a statement. “We are pleased to embark on a new co-leadership model with Joshua and Meryl, who have long served our organization and community. They bring years of institutional knowledge and dedication to their new roles and we look forward to a seamless transition.”
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-930-4120.