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Media Advisory No. PENDING
Contact:
Office of Communications (202) 720-4623
USDA to Unveil the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass
New Web Resource Maps USDA Support for Local and Regional Food Projects, Highlights Business Opportunities
WASHINGTON, Feb. 29, 2012- TODAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan will unveil the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF) Compass via a live webinar. This KYF Compass is an interactive web-based document and map highlighting USDA support for local and regional food projects and successful producer, business and community case studies. The Secretaries will also discuss how local and regional food systems across the country offer economic opportunities for local farmers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs while growing the number of farmers, expanding healthy food access and building strong infrastructure systems.
In September 2009, USDA launched the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative to coordinate USDA resources and expertise on local and regional food systems. The initiative also encourages Americans to learn more about U.S. agriculture and connect with the farmers, ranchers and growers who are producing their food. The KYF Compass documents the ways in which USDA has coordinated across its 17 agencies and additional offices, enhanced transparency and met congressional mandates from the 2008 Farm Bill on local and regional food.
Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012
2 p.m. EST
WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan will unveil the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass and highlight USDA’s support for local and regional food opportunities, which has spurred economic opportunity for farmers and ranchers across the country.
WHERE: The webinar will be live-streamed at www.usda.gov/live. You can participate live by asking questions on Twitter to @usda and using the hash tag #KYF2.
Questions may also be submitted in advance to Stephanie Chan at Stephanie.chan@xxxxxxxxxxx.
Access to the Compass and interactive map as well as additional information will be unveiled on February 29 at www.usda.gov.
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