INWOOD, W.Va. -- A farmer from West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle helped launch a new U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative to connect consumers with the farms that feed them.

The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass website offers an interactive map and shows the USDA's support for local food projects.

Users can also learn about careers in agriculture, environmental stewardship, local meat and poultry suppliers, and access to healthy food.

Derek Kilmer runs Kilmer Farm Market in Inwood and helped kick off the program during a webinar earlier this month. He's focused on convincing schools, nursing homes and other institutions of the benefits of locally grown produce.

Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglass says he hopes the program will help make urban residents more aware of where their food comes from.