Source:  Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 3/2/11

Livestock producers and processors wanting tools and advice for communicating with consumers and others interested in animal handling and other issues can seek help from a new website, the Farmer Resource Center.

Produced by the Center for Food Integrity (CFI), the website — which, despite its name, addresses issues from all elements of the beef, pork and poultry supply chain — includes primers on social media, advice on writing letters to the editor and op-ed articles, and sample scripts and documents for various types of communication.

The home page include a Twitter feed, headlines of interest to industry, and special alerts about issues raised in media reports.

The site also features a Social Media Help Desk that offers social media support and assistance, which can be reached by phone or email. Users can get help responding to news articles or setting up online tools, such as blogs and Facebook pages.

The forum is intended to help farmers and others “connect with a population that has little understanding of today’s food system,” CFI said in a news release.

“Our research tells us consumers are increasingly turning to online sources for information about the food system,” says Jim Fallon, representing CFI. “But they also receive information from friends and family, their local TV station, newspapers, and radio as well. This site offers tools and advice for farmers and food system leaders to use to engage with consumers via all of these sources.”

“We encourage everyone in the food system to monitor local sources of information and be ready to make your voice heard,” Fallon says. “When there are inaccuracies, be prepared to tell your story and present truthful information so consumers can see another side of the story.”
 

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