Sacramento County won’t run out of food any time soon, so stop panic buying [KXTV, Sacramento]
Empty shelves at the grocery store are no cause for concern, because Sacramento County isn’t running out food any time soon. “Definitely, we’re not going to run out of food,” said Lindsey Liebig, executive director for the Sacramento County Farm Bureau. … Growers and retailers are just in a game of catch-up to restock the shelves.
Global harvests at risk with travel limits squeezing labor [Bloomberg News]
Across the globe, governments are imposing travel limits in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus. The unintended consequence is a squeeze on migrant labor that’s a cornerstone of food production. American produce growers preparing to harvest crops are warning of a devastating impact on fruit and vegetables after the U.S. Embassy in Mexico announced a halt to visa interviews for seasonal farm workers. Slaughterhouses also may face labor shortages.
COVID-19 threatens food supply chain as farms worry about workers falling ill [NPR]
… The continuing availability of agricultural workers illustrates the paradox of America’s food supply in the age of COVID-19. One end of the food supply chain has been completely upended as restaurants go dark and consumers prowl half-empty aisles of supermarkets. Food producers, though, are operating almost as normal — at least for now. … Food distributors and wholesalers in the middle of that supply chain, meanwhile, are trying to perform logistical miracles, re-directing truckloads of food from shuttered businesses toward places where people now crave it — mainly grocery stores.
Coronavirus: Farmers markets ditch samples, add more hand-washing stations [Ventura County Star]
Store shelves may be stripped of toilet paper and dried beans, but shoppers in Ventura County still have access to fresh produce from another source: farmers markets. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday night gave updated COVID-19 guidelines for the continued operation of certified farmers markets throughout the state. Those guidelines include discontinuing samples, encouraging pre-bagging to expedite purchasing and spacing booths and patrons in accordance with social distancing measures.
Sonoma County grocers open but shortening hours as consumer demand spikes [Santa Rosa Press Democrat]
… Many area supermarkets and grocers are shortening their daily operating hours and suspending hot food and salad bars, and many are temporarily out of certain products — good luck finding hand sanitizer — amid the run of panic-shopping by residents now bracing for a three-week slog mainly hunkered down at home. … Rob Neenan, president of the California League of Food Producers, emphasized that farmers and food manufacturers produce “a tremendous amount of food,” much of which is sitting in cold storage or already in cans.
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/10829275-181/sonoma-county-grocers-open-but?sba=AAS
Column: Lodi wineries are doing the right thing by suspending operations during virus crisis (Stockton Record)
… Lodi’s wineries have responded as you would expect with the best interests of the community in mind. … Though tasting rooms have closed temporarily and events have been postponed or canceled, Lodi’s wineries are open for business. … Some wineries have had to make difficult decisions. Susan Tipton, the owner and winemaker at Acquiesce Winery in Acampo, which crafts white wines from the Southern Rhone varieties, has had to lay off her tasting room staff.
