Know Your Farmer, Virtually

by Katherine Gustafson · 2009-10-12 06:00:00 UTC
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Fellow blogger Mike Smith recently reported on the launch of the USDA’s “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative, which aims to help people make wise eating decisions by learning about where their food comes from.

I’d like to take a moment to point out the rocking “Know Your Farmer” Website that the campaign has developed, a great resource for those involved in farming and food. Not only is the portal very aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate, it presents a lot of information, offers many useful resources, includes a wealth of photos and videos and links to social networking sites.

A “grants, loans and support” page lists extensive information on everything from a farmers market promotion program to risk management education programs to resources for farm storage facility loans. Other pages like “support local farmers” and “promote healthy eating” link to other useful resources.

The page that will be most interesting to the everyday public, however — the "ideas and stories" page — isn’t available yet. I’m certainly curious about what might end up there, since the page invites viewers to send in their thoughts.

“This is the start of a national dialogue between the USDA and you — farmers, ranchers, businesses, community organizations, governments, schools, consumers,” the page promises. “Government doesn't have all the answer — the issues that we're addressing require local solutions and local resolve.”

Will the USDA really listen to people’s ideas about their food? There’s only one way to find out.

Photo courtesy of Per Ola Wiberg (Powi) on flickr

Katherine Gustafson is a freelance writer and editor with a background in international nonprofit organizations.
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