New USDA Website, www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer, Will Better Link Producers with Consumers

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2009 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today launched a new USDA website for the 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative to continue the national conversation about developing local and regional food systems and finding ways to support small and mid-sized farms. Merrigan will also host a Facebook chat about the initiative on Thursday, Oct. 1, to discuss local food systems.

"We want this website to serve as a hub of ideas, success stories, and USDA resources for linking local producers with consumers, because by rebuilding our local and regional food systems, we can spur economic opportunity in rural communities and strengthen American agriculture," Merrigan said. "Americans are more interested in food and agriculture than they have been at any other time since most families left the farm and we are marshalling resources from across all of USDA to help create and strengthen the link between local production and local consumption."

The new website, at www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer, will feature social media tools to help focus the public conversation about farming and food, while engaging American agriculture and linking producers to customers. The 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' website will direct consumers and producers to new media resources, such as information on the USDA blog, Facebook discussions, Twitter and YouTube videos. The public will be able to send their stories, ideas or videos to the 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' team at knowyourfarmer@usda.gov .

"I'm excited about the Facebook chat, because it can continue our conversation with the public about ways to better link producers to customers, and increase economic opportunities for producers, while enhancing agricultural sustainability," Merrigan said.

The public can become a fan of USDA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USDA and join the 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" chat on Thursday, Oct. 1 from 3:45 to 4:15 p.m. Details are available at www.usda.gov/live. You can submit a question in advance of the chat or watch the conversation on the USDA website.

The 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative includes such major agricultural topics as supporting local farmers and community food groups; strengthening rural communities; enhancing direct marketing and farmers' promotion programs; promoting healthy eating; protecting natural resources; and helping schools connect with locally grown foods. USDA also began a pilot program aimed at improving the health and wellness of federal employees by serving local, nutritious food at USDA cafeterias.

The 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative emphasizes the need for a fundamental and critical reconnection between producers and consumers. The effort builds on the 2008 Farm Bill, which provides for increases and flexibility for USDA programs in an effort to promote local foods. Consumer demand for locally grown food in the United States is expected to rise from an estimated $4 billion in 2002 to as much as $7 billion by 2012.

Since May, an inter-agency USDA 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' task force has been working to align existing USDA programs with the needs of local and regional food systems; conducting outreach activities so that the linkages are understood; helping communities build local food systems by providing new initiatives; and engaging the American public in conversation about local and regional agriculture.

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