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| M/A 4065.10 |
Contact:
USDA Office of Communications
(202) 720-4623 |
AGRICULTURE DEPUTY SECRETARY MERRIGAN BRINGS USDA'S 'KNOW YOUR FARMER, KNOW YOUR FOOD' INITIATIVE TO CHICAGO
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2010 – TODAY, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan will visit Chicago to highlight USDA’s ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ initiative. Merrigan will present to students at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, speak at the Financing Farm to Fork Conference aimed at supporting local foods by encouraging investment in farm and food production, processing, and distribution businesses, and discuss food systems policy with students and community leaders at DePaul University.
USDA’s ‘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 revitalize rural economies through the promotion local food systems. Aimed at strengthening the connection between farmers and consumers, the initiative also supports local and regional food systems, increase economic opportunities for local farmers, and expand access to healthy food for Americans.
Providing greater access to fresh, healthy food is a priority of the Obama Administration. Last month, First Lady Michelle Obama launched the Let’s Move! campaign to end childhood obesity within a generation so that children born today will reach adulthood at a healthy weight. The campaign has four primary tenets: helping parents make healthy food choices, serving healthier food in schools; improving access to healthy, affordable food; and increasing physical activity. Learn more by visiting www.LetsMove.gov.
The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food website, at www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer, features social media tools to help focus the public conversation about farming and food, while engaging American agriculture and linking producers to customers.
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WHEN: |
Thursday, March 11, 2010
10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. |
| WHAT: |
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan speaks to students, educators, and administrators about USDA’s ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ initiative at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences |
| WHERE: |
Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences Auditorium
3857 West 111th Street
Chicago, IL |
| WHEN: |
Thursday, March 11, 2010
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
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WHAT: |
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan speaks at the Financing Farm to Fork Conference aimed at supporting local foods by encouraging investment in farm and food production, processing, and distribution businesses. |
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WHERE: |
University of Illinois at Chicago
Hall C 725 Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL |
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WHEN: |
Thursday, March 11, 2010
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
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WHAT: |
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan will present to local leaders and students interested in food systems policy at DePaul University. |
| WHERE: |
DePaul University, Lincoln Park campus
Cortelyou Commons Building
2324 N. Fremont St
Chicago, IL |
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
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