Tune in USDA/White House Local Food Event @ 3pm EST 7/17

PLEASE JOIN US TO LAUNCH THE

KNOW YOUR FARMER, KNOW YOUR FOOD COMPASS VERSION 2.0!

On July 17, USDA is proudly unveiling the 2.0 version of the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass, a digital resource detailing USDA’s involvement in local and regional food.  Please help us spread the word! 

You are invited to participate in an exciting launch event on Tuesday, July 17 at 3 pm ET.  The USDA and the White House will host a Google+ Hangout with USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, White House Director of Office of Public Engagement Jon Carson and six women leaders – producers, small business owners, and others – to explore local foods through the voices of women.  This virtual event can be viewed on http://www.whitehouse.gov/live or on the White House Google+ Home page live at 3pm ET.  Invite your lists, watch the event and participate by sending Twitter questions via #WHHangout or on the White House Google + page during the event.

Chris Kirby, Oklahoma Farm to School Director, will be featured at the event for her work creating a buying club for OK school districts, working with mainline distributors to source locally and connecting local producers with USDA funding for high tunnels.

Then on Tuesday, July 24 at 1:30 ET, you’re invited to join USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan for a follow-up Twitter chat about local and regional food.   You can ask her questions directly using #KYF2 or #ASKUSDA.

What is the Compass? The KYF Compass highlights USDA investments in local food systems; showcases inspiring local food success stories from around the country; and features an interactive map.  The 2.0 version of the map (live on July 17) is searchable by keyword or zip code radius, easier to use and has thousands of new data points, including USDA-funded local food projects in all 50 states, farmers markets, food hubs, wholesale markets, meat processing facilities, and other critical infrastructure. 

Who are the six women leaders?

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Mayor of Baltimore, MD
Cory Carman, Carman Ranch, Wallowa, OR
Sue Noble, Vernon Economic Development Association, Veroqua, WI
Chris Kirby, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture/OK Farm to School, Oklahoma City, OK
Valerie Segrest, Muckleshoot Food Sovereignty Initiative, Auburn, WA
Pam Roy, Farm to Table New Mexico and the New Mexico State Food Policy Council, Albuquerque, NM