Coronavirus: Work continues for county’s 36,000 farmworkers, who are considered essential [Ventura County Star]
… In the fields, farmworkers now practice social distancing, staying six feet apart while harvesting strawberries, broccoli and other produce. But at home, social distancing is more difficult. Urbano’s family of four lives in one room of a four-bedroom home shared with three other families, in overcrowded housing conditions that many farmworkers experience. … Farming is considered an essential industry, and farm companies are quickly adopting precautions to keep workers safe.
Bolthouse Farms sees demand for carrots double as grocers try to restock shelves [CNBC]
As grocers try to keep shelves stocked, Bolthouse Farms has seen demand for its carrots double, putting pressure on the company to fulfill orders without risking the safety of its workers. … “We’ve been doing as much as we can to stay in production. I think that’s critical with everyone right now, keep their plants up and running,” CEO Jeff Dunn said in an interview. … The plant has been broken up into zones and subzones to keep workers apart from each other, and a 30-minute gap has been instituted between shifts to keep employees from mingling.
As coronavirus fuels meat demand, processors raise pay for North American farmers, workers [Reuters]
North American meat processors said on Monday they would pay extra money to farmers and slaughterhouse workers as the companies scramble to meet surging demand from consumers unnerved by the spread of the new coronavirus. Companies like Tyson Foods Inc and Cargill Inc want to ensure their slaughterhouses remain supplied with cattle to chop into beef and employees to perform the sometimes grueling work. Their products are in high demand as shoppers have emptied grocery stores of meat to fill their refrigerators and freezers during a time of “social distancing” to help contain the highly contagious respiratory virus.
Grocery stores and food suppliers working to meet demand [KVML Radio, Sonora]
The California Grocers Association has put out a joint statement with the California Farm Bureau designed to ease the concerns of those who are having trouble finding needed food and supplies…. “From the farm to the grocery store, every segment of California’s food distribution system is working conscientiously to fill any gaps and make sure consumers have reliable supplies of safe, affordable food and farm products.”
Coronavirus: Bay Area distillers, brewers are making hand sanitizer [Bay Area News Group]
… The dire shortage of Purell and other hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol has spurred distillers and brewers into action across the country. In the Bay Area, Hanson of Sonoma, an organic vodka distillery, started making hand sanitizer last week as a way to help the community and keep employees working. And Heretic Brewing of Fairfield is planning to start production this week. It took two weeks for Dormishian and the others to receive approval from the three agencies involved in the process.
Opinion: It’s National Ag Day, so here’s to celebrating the farmers and ranchers who feed us [Fresno Bee]
… Reassurance is difficult during this uncertain time, but one bit of certainty I can guarantee is that American farmers and ranchers, as well as our transportation and logistics colleagues, will refill those shelves quickly. … Though the only certainty about living off the land is the uncertainty it provides, those who are a part of the community appreciate the life it offers. … Finding collaborative solutions to our many obstacles, especially water, is essential to our long-term viability.
https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article241384441.html
