Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF2) is a USDA initiative to promote sustainable local and regional food systems that will support farmers and ranchers, strengthen rural communities, promote healthy eating, and protect our natural resources. President Obama has called for a reinvigoration of our local food systems, and KYF2 represents the efforts of Secretary Vilsack, Deputy Secretary Merrigan and the USDA staff to do so. Through Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is making sure that its current programs are used effectively and new policies are developed in support of local and regional food systems. Finally, and most importantly, this initiative is the beginning of a conversation between us and you about the importance of food and agriculture and how we can support what matters to you.

Early in 2009, in response to President Obama’s challenge to reinvigorate local food systems, each of USDA’s 26 agencies was asked to come forward with programs that can help support this effort…and they did.  It’s no surprise that USDA has programs throughout its operations that can assist farmers, help consumers access nutritious foods, and support rural community development. We provide billions of dollars annually doing all this and more. What may be a surprise is that we have programs all across the Department that can cultivate local capacity to strengthen local and regional food systems. We don’t need to create a new slate of programs; we need to make sure that the ones we have work better.

This is a USDA-wide effort to create new economic opportunities by better connecting consumers with local producers. It is also the start of a national conversation about the importance of understanding where your food comes from and how it gets to your plate. Today, there is too much distance between the average American and their farmer and we are marshalling resources from across USDA to help create the link between local production and local consumption.

Find more information about Nebraska’s USDA Rural Development and Know Your Farmer Know Your Food program.