Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack launched a new feature on the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food website that highlights local and regional food systems and notes the multiple connections between farmers and consumers.

The new resource highlights the importance of local and regional food systems, which happens to be one of the fastest growing aspects of agriculture that is instrumental to American agriculture, the economy, and rural communities.

“By developing our local and regional food systems, we can spur job growth in our rural communities and ultimately strengthen American agriculture,” said Secretary Vilsack. “This showcase will serve as a hub of ideas, local success stories, and USDA resources that showcase and strengthen the link between local production and local consumption that benefits producers of all sizes.” 

The “Ideas and Stories” section of the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” website will provide real-world examples of people who work in the agricultural industry every day across the country.

The website also serves as a clearinghouse for USDA resources aimed at linking local producers with consumers and promoting a national conversation about food and agriculture.

The “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” website was established in order to create new economic opportunities, promote local and regional food systems that assist in keeping the local economy in business in rural communities, and to encourage a national conversation about what Americans eat and where it comes from in order to benefit consumers and producers of all sizes.