FW: Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan to Host 2nd 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' Facebook Chat on Nov. 5

Hi all,
Please see the notice below about the second Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food chat which will focus on Farm to School!

Best,
Colleen

________________________________________
From: Barham, James [James.Barham@ams.usda.gov]
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 8:06 AM
To: COMFOOD@elist.tufts.edu
Subject: [COMFOOD:] Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan to Host 2nd 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' Facebook Chat on Nov. 5

AGRICULTURE DEPUTY SECRETARY MERRIGAN TO HOST 2ND 'KNOW YOUR FARMER,
KNOW YOUR FOOD' FACEBOOK CHAT ON NOV. 5

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2009 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen
Merrigan will host her second Facebook chat about the 'Know Your
Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 3 p.m. The
topic of this chat will be farm to school, which involves getting and
using fresh produce and other farm products from local and regional
farmers for use in local schools. The effort not only supports
increasing economic opportunities for local farmers but also helps
school children make healthy food choices.

The 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative emphasizes the need
for a fundamental and critical reconnection between producers and
consumers. The effort builds on the 2008 Farm Bill, which provides for
increases and flexibility for USDA programs in an effort to promote
local foods.

Merrigan hosted her first Facebook chat on the initiative on Oct. 1.
Questions were submitted from people across the nation about beginning
farmer and rancher programs, interest in school nutrition, food safety
and supporting local and regional food systems. During the 30 minute
session, more than 115 questions and comments were submitted.

Details are available at www.usda.gov/live and people can submit a
question in advance of the chat or watch the conversation on the USDA
website.

The website, at www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer, features social media tools
to help focus the public conversation about farming and food, while
engaging American agriculture and linking producers to customers. The
public will be able to send their stories, ideas or videos to the 'Know
Your Farmer, Know Your Food' team at knowyourfarmer@usda.gov . The
public can become a fan of USDA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USDA.

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