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WASHINGTON, April 22 (UPI) -- The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative emphasizes the need for a reconnection between U.S. farmers and consumers, federal officials say.

Building from the 2008 Farm Bill, the U.S. Department of Agriculture program is an try to revitalize rural economies by activity local and regional matter systems while providing fresh, local matter to communities.

Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of agriculture, says digit example of how farmers can intend participating is to participate in local farm-to-school programs that enable schools to feature healthy, locally-sourced products in their cafeterias.

"The USDA currently is sending teams out to superior edifice districts to impact on farm to edifice issues," Merrigan says in a statement. "Some of these programs also combine nutrition-based studies, as substantially as food-learning opportunities such as farm visits, gardening, cooking, and composting activities."

The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Web site, at www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer, helps link farmers to customers.

The USDA forecasts consumer demand for locally grown matter will process from an estimated $4 1000000000 in 2002 to $7 1000000000 by 2012.