It ’s been a fairly soft wintertime in most parts of the rural area , and if you ’re anything like your other pursuit - farming comrades , you ’re itch to get your hands in the grunge and start growing intellectual nourishment . The USDA is all buzzing over food and farming , too , with campaigns and grant awards point local intellectual nourishment systems .
Know Your Farmer , screw Your Food CompassLast week , the USDA unveiled theKnow Your Farmer , Know Your Food Compass , a Web - based map to highlight USDA - fund local and regional food projects between 2009 and 2011 . Data on the site is broken into seven categories ( Local Food Infrastructure , Farm to Institution , Careers in Agriculture , Stewardship and Local Foods , Local Meat and Poultry , Healthy Food Access , and Local Food Knowledge ) , showcasing suit subject field , photos and TV from various USDA project .
A key feature of the site is the interactional mathematical function , which pinpoints local - food projects encounter across the U.S. you may custom-make the map to reckon project by scope base , recipient character or syllabus . The map is also equipped to display data about Farm Service Agency Loans , college tour location , seasonal high tunnels , farmers ’ grocery nutrition programs and more .
“ The Know Your Farmer , Know Your Food initiative helps farmers and ranchers bug into a vibrant , grow market opportunity , ” says Kathleen Merrigan , deputy agriculture repository . “ And it ’s also stimulating a encompassing interior conversation about where our food add up from and how important agriculture is to our economy . ”
Community Food Project AwardsThe USDA ’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture latterly herald 27 Duncan James Corrow Grant awards made through its Community Food Projects program . Funding totaling $ 4.8 million will be used to support food and nutrition opening move across the country , including a teen - run community of interests kitchen incubator , a program to serve indigenous the great unwashed return to healthful feeding and a younker - extend intellectual nourishment - security movement .
“ All of our grant recipient back the connective between farmers and the community of interests by promoting comprehensive responses to local food , farm and alimentation issues , ” order NIFA representative Jennifer Martin .
One program , in particular , is using its award money to help lock farmers in satisfy community hunger needs . The Mainers Feeding Mainers program at the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn , Maine , function with 20 local farmers in 2011 to distribute about 1 million punt of local food to hunger - alleviation organizations across the state .
“ We undertake with these local Fannie Merritt Farmer to buy products from their farms , and many also donate surplus items to the food bank , ” says Clara McConnell , the food for thought camber ’s communications manager .
Throughout the 2012 and 2013 growing season , the food bank will be putting its funds toward expanding its Mainers Feeding Mainers business concern architectural plan to break reasonable pricing scheme for its farmers , create model for farm - to - pantry satellite food - statistical distribution hub , and assess and improve current farm partnership .
The program deadline for 2012 grants has passed . Nonprofits wishing to give for 2013 financial backing can find more information on theNIFA site .
