Yesterday, September 15, 2009, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced the new “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative. According to the USDA news release, the initiative is an attempt boost local economic activity, and to “begin a national conversation to help develop local and regional food systems . . .”Vilsack issued this statement in the news release, ‘"An American people that is more engaged with their food supply will create new income opportunities for American agriculture . . . Reconnecting consumers and institutions with local producers will stimulate economies in rural communities, improve access to healthy, nutritious food for our families, and decrease the amount of resources to transport our food."’
Deputy Secretary Merrigan will chair the initiative. The initiative is the focus of a task force consisting of representatives from various USDA agencies. The task force aims to improve the Department’s efforts in building more sustainable and efficient local and regional food systems. This week the Department plans to announce $65 million in funding for the initiative.
Deputy Secretary Merrigan made this statement in the news release, ‘“Americans are more interested in food and agriculture than at any other time since most families left the farm . . . ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' seeks to focus that conversation on supporting local and regional food systems to strengthen American agriculture by promoting sustainable agricultural practices and spurring economic opportunity in rural communities.”’
The USDA would like to use already existing programs “to break down structural barriers that have inhibited local food systems from thriving.” The USDA also announced a group of initial steps the department is taking to get the initiative off the ground.
They are: 1)USDA’s Risk Management Agency is using $3.4 million in funding to be used in “collaborative outreach and assistance programs to socially disadvantaged farmers. According to the USDA, this supports the initiative’s goals “by helping producers adopt new and direct marketing practices.”; 2)USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service wants to implement a new voluntary cooperative program authorized in 2008 Farm Bill that should created new “economic opportunities for small meat and poultry establishments, whose markets are currently limited.”; 3)USDA’s Rural Development is providing a Rural Business Opportunity Grant of $150,000 to the Northwest Food Processors Association to help strengthen the relationship between local processors and consumers through the Northwest; and 4)USDA’s Rural Development also announced $4.4 million in grants to help local business cooperatives.
USDA plans to continue using existing resources for the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food,” as well as look for new resources “to pursue sustainable agriculture and support for local and regional food systems.”
To watch a video Secretary Vilsack made to help launch the initiative click here.
To read the USDA news release click here.
Posted: 09/16/09
