Web Resource Maps USDA Support

At the recent Natural Products Expo West, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan highlighted the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF) Compass, an interactive web-based document and map highlighting USDA support for local and regional food projects and successful producer, business, and community case studies. Merrigan emphasized how local and regional food systems across the country create additional economic opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and food entrepreneurs; expand healthy food access; and meet growing customer demand. The Compass was unveiled in March in a webinar with Merrigan and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The KYF Compass is a digital guide to USDA resources related to local and regional food systems. The Compass consists of an interactive U.S. map showing local and regional food projects and an accompanying narrative documenting the results of this work through case studies, photos, and video content. The KYF Compass organizes USDA’s work on local and regional food systems into seven thematic areas including: local food infrastructure, farm to institution, careers in agriculture, stewardship and local foods, local meat and poultry, healthy food access, and local food knowledge. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer or at Twitter #KYF2.