COVID-19
COVID-19 produce shopping trends tracked by Steve Lutz
Consumers have moved away from eating at restaurants and more toward shopping for food and eating at home the past nine months, and that’s been out of necessity due to COVID-related foodservice restrictions. That’s been... more »
COVID-19 protections for agricultural workers extended in Oregon
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Oct. 23 extended COVID-19 protections for agricultural workers in employer-provided housing through the off season. Executive Order 20-58 addresses requirements related to physical distancing, sanitation, and isolation in order to... more »
Cornell seeks ways to minimize COVID-19 cases in food plants
The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the nation’s food supply, in part due to food industry workers falling ill, which reduces the workforce and can lead to temporary facility shut-downs. A Cornell-led project will use computer... more »
Second round of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program pays more than $7B
USDA announced Oct. 26 that in the first month of the application period, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) approved more than $7 billion in payments to producers in the second round of the Coronavirus... more »
Farmers to Families Food Box Program gets fourth round, USDA says
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Oct. 23 it has authorized $500 million for a fourth round of purchases for the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program. USDA is issuing solicitations for the... more »
California produce markets retain sharp division
Seven months into the ongoing pandemic, farmer Dave Vierra of West Sacramento said he thinks a new normal has arrived. "How long this is normal is a good question," said Vierra, who grows vegetables, watermelon... more »
$1M grant eyes survival of COVID-19 on surfaces in food supply chain
From the delivery of an Amazon package to ordering takeout food, people touch a multitude of surfaces every day, leaving behind residue, germs, and more. Food supply chain personnel from every level - growing, processing,... more »
Additional farmworker COVID-19 testing efforts set by Florida ag department
Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are announcing additional COVID-19 testing sites St. Lucie and Miami Dade County for farmworkers as the fall harvest season begins. The product of a partnership with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and... more »
Nearly $1M in CARES Act funds set from Colorado ag department for farmers
The Colorado Department of Agriculture is making up to $1 million in grant funding available for Colorado farmers, ranchers, food hubs and processors to support them in adjusting to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic... more »
Lettuce, driven by bagged lettuce, a dominant player in vegetable sales
The pandemic caused changes in virtually all shopping habits, from when and where people shopped to the types, amounts and brands they purchased. These changes were driven by anxiety over in-store visits that prompted fewer... more »
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