Contacts:
Kelly Loftus, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-3829

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwE76-cmrZo&feature=PlayList&p=4F1ACED0E6040662&index=10

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan recently 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.

Nowhere in the United States is this focus in the forefront of agricultural development more so than in Vermont. With more Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and farmers’ markets per capita than any other state, Vermont was the perfect partner to help launch this new initiative. Merrigan is impressed with Vermont’s focus on regional and local food systems and spoke with Lane about what Vermont is doing to facilitate strengthening those systems.

“One of the first things we did from a policy standpoint is to protect the name “Vermont” and what it means by establishing a Vermont origin rule. We have also established a definition of “local.” From a policy standpoint, it’s about protecting the integrity of local food systems and the authenticity of Vermont,” said Lane. “With funding from USDA we have also been able to provide technical assistance and infrastructure for producers.”

Lane cited the design and implementation of two mobile processing units – the vegetable and berry quick freeze unit and the mobile poultry processing unit. Both units are up and running and can come directly to the farm to help farmers better plan their business and to develop new markets and expand existing markets.

“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 USDA to help create and strengthen links between local production and local consumption.”

The new website: 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 consumers. The “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” website will direct consumers and producers to new media resources such as information on the USDA blog and other social media venues. The public can send their stories, videos, or ideas to the Know Your Farmer Know Your Food team at knowyourfarmer@usda.gov.

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 began a pilot program aimed at improving the health and wellness of federal employees by serving local, nutritious food at USDA cafeterias.

Vermont has been investigating similar ways to incorporate more locally produced foods in its state government food system. These include a community garden planed on the Statehouse lawn this year as well as the Farm to School program and others.

The “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative emphasizes the need for a fundamental and critical connection between producers and consumers – something Vermont recognized as a priority many years ago. The effort builds on the 2008 Farm Bill, which provides for increases and flexibility for programs in an effort to promote local foods. Consumer demand for locally grown food in the United States is expected to rise for 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.