USDA Introduces Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan will unveil the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF) Compass today via webinar at 2:00 p.m. ET. The interactive Web-based document and map highlights USDA support for local and regional food projects, as well as successful producer, business and community case studies.

According to Vilsack and Merrigan, local and regional food systems across the country offer economic opportunities for area farmers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs while increasing the number of farmers, expanding healthy-food access and building strong infrastructures.

In September 2009, USDA rolled out the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative to coordinate agency resources and expertise on local and regional food systems. The initiative also invites Americans to learn more about U.S. agriculture and connect with the farmers, ranchers and growers who produce their food. The KYF Compass documents the ways in which USDA has coordinated across its 17 agencies and additional offices, boosted transparency, and met congressional mandates from the 2008 Farm Bill on local and regional food.

Webinar attendees can participate live by asking questions on Twitter to @usda and using the hash tag #KYF2.