know your farmer, know your food: event tomorrow 10/14

[marasunshine]

A special invitation from Dean Goodman to faculty and staff:



“KNOW YOUR FARMER, KNOW YOUR FOOD:

A LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM INITIATIVE FROM THE USDA”



Learn about the new USDA program to continue the national conversation about developing local and regional food systems and finding ways to support small and mid-size farms



Who: USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan

What: Dr. Merrigan’s first visit as Deputy Secretary to the Cook-Douglass Campus;

Informal discussion of the “Know Your Farmer” program, followed by Q & A

Hosted by Executive Dean Bob Goodman



Where: Douglass Campus Center, Room E, 100 George St., New Brunswick



When: 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 14, 2009.

Details: Three weeks ago Deputy Secretary Merrigan and the USDA launched a campaign, “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” to draw attention to the importance of local and regional farming in the food- sourcing process for schools, institutions and individuals throughout the U.S. Drawing upon the growing interest of American consumers in farm markets and locally grown food, “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” seeks to vividly make the connection between farm and table and to strengthen the link between local production and local consumption.

Says Deputy Secretary Merrigan: “By rebuilding our local and regional food systems, we can spur economic opportunity in rural communities and strengthen American agriculture.” The campaign features a number of activities, including a new website (www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer), school-based programs promoting fresh food; tactical teams of marketing and food and nutrition professionals to evaluate programs, support for local farmers and community food groups, healthy eating initiatives and other efforts.

Before joining Secretary Tom Vilsack at the USDA, Deputy Secretary Merrigan was at Tufts University as an assistant professor and director of the Agriculture, Food and Environment M.S. and Ph.D. Program in the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She has served in high level administrative and policy-forming roles in agriculture in government and the private sector. She holds a Ph.D. in environmental planning and policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas and a B.A. from Williams College.