The US Department of Agriculture today announced a new program called Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food.
Why? Here's one good reason: "Americans are more interested in food and agriculture than at any other time since most families left the farm," said Agriculture Deputy, Kathleen Merrigan. "'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."
If you attend your local farmer's market, buy locally grown produce or have a backyard vegetable garden of your own, you're already part of the conversation. But...there are still many communities without a true farmer's market or any opportunity to buy food grown or packaged within 150 miles of their home (most food still travels 1,500 miles to reach your plate). There are still school children who don't know that milk comes from cows (it's not "made" by the store). There are still families serving canned veggies (or none) because it's the only option they have.
It's time for change.
This initiative means that funds will be allocated to important programs that help move this conversation off a wish list and into reality. Where it needs to be. We need to be putting pencil to paper, discussing programs in our various community meetings and supporting our local growers by asking our grocery store, favorite restaurants and friends where their food comes from.
We can do this. Believe me. You can also believe Tom Vilsak, USDA Secretary. Check out the USDA's YouTube site for his new video talking about the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative.
So, tell me, do you know a local farmer? Do you know where your food comes from? If not, find a farmer's market near you and and find out this weekend. Then tell us about it.
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