Different sectors of the fruit industry had highs and lows in 2020. Apples showed a smaller crop than usual, but cranberries did well due to increased retail juice sales. The wine and craft beverage sector was hit hard early in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, but bounced back with the availability of online ordering and curbside pickup.
While many people are concerned about how to keep themselves and their families safe from COVID-19, it’s also important to know how the virus is not transmitted. Consuming fruits and vegetables remains safe and is important for maintaining a robust immune system. Here are some details on food safety in the current environment that may help calm your uncertainty.
Farm Credit East recently hosted a webinar featuring a panel of experts to discuss the Northeast's fruit and vegetables industries, and how COVID-19 has impacted markets. This post summarizes their discussion on a multitude of topics, including supply and demand, consumer preferences, costs, marketing and labor challenges, as well as future outlook predictions.
On April 17, the USDA unveiled details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for agriculture, which includes $16 billion in direct support to agricultural producers and $3 billion to purchase and distribute agriculture products to Americans in need. Read a summary of these two main components.
