Pandemic: Changes to Food

Crisis Can Mean Opportunity

The one thing to remember about crisis events, while they can be terrible and devastating to many; they can also bring about inventions, innovations, and revolutions. So today, I am looking at the USA food systems that may, or should, change. This is by no means a complete list, just some ideas. For no matter what happens in the future, we know things will change as we eventually, and slowly, return to some image of normality.

After rereading this post one last time, I realized that I must admit that this post obviously comes from someone living in the USA. Compared to many other people around the world, we have an overall good and functioning food system, variety of stores, various transportation systems, and (for the most part) clean running water. The lessons I speak to are thus about our own food systems and not related to what other countries may need to change. Worldwide I have no doubt that there are many opportunities for improvements too, but that is beyond my current knowledge.

Lessons on Global Food Systems

As I have stated before, our current global food distribution systems are both efficient and timely, working well when every country does its part. However, in this pandemic, we are also learning that efficiency, can be extremely fragile and can fail during a crisis. While I still do not YET see major food disruptions in the USA, I am seeing some hints of potential future problems, and we are already seeing global impacts that may reduce food choices, variations, and change costs.

Value Food Workers

What our food systems rely on, are basically the labor of poor and blue collar workers. While correctly considered as ”essential” workers, these people generally (i.e., not in all cases, but mostly) have terrible working conditions, receive poor to no health services, are extremely low paid with limited benefits, and often are harshly exploited. Just think about the global food chain and who is involved.

• Farmers and field workers that plant and harvest food, often immigrants, children, and the poor
• Warehouse workers that house or ship food for distribution
• Sailors, deckhands, and longshoremen that import/export food
• Railroad workers, truck drivers, package and mail carriers that deliver goods and foods
• Grocery employees that stock and sell the food to us
• Chefs, cooking staff, and waitpeople that cook and serve food
• Food shoppers and delivery driver gig workers

Favor Smaller Farms or Coops

The main issue, laid bare now, is regarding local small farms (or consortiums or cooperatives) versus larger industrial farms.

• Declining small local farms and consortiums appear better suited to respond to local food needs in a pandemic crisis with lower transportation needs, fresher foods, and limited human hands touching the food
• Large, often governmentally subsidized, centralized industrial farms in the US are not able to switch quickly to meet changing circumstances
  • For instance large farms are still producing mainly corn for biofuel which is not helpful in pandemics when we need food
  • Large farms are destroying food since they grow and process for restaurant and larger purchasers of their products, and those venues are closed
• The large food system has not, and is not, prepared to keep their workers safe during crisis, so we are losing workers as they get sick
• Large enterprise systems are purely profit motivated, so closing plants, dumping food, laying off workers appears more a budget calculation

US farms are already reporting pandmic-related impacts.

• Reports of food rotting on the vines, due to lack of field workers
• Milk and eggs are being dumped, due to lack of distribution or packaging workers
• Meat packing plants are reporting company-wide virus outbreaks
• Now there is talk among some White House politicians about lowering the pay to field workers

Lessons for Farming Communities

This is a topic that quickly moves me into basic moral questions, and yet also requires a dispassionate, clear-eyed look at the systems we have in place. So I must declare that I have worked as a summer Ag worker in the fields (blueberry, strawberry, potatoes, maize, etc.). This work was necessary so that I had clothes, supported the family, and could purchase school supplies. So for me, these issues are personally felt. As a result, my overall moral stance is that all work is of value, no work should be devalued, and everyone deserves pay, benefits, and support.

• It bears repeating, our social systems work well only if every part of these systems are supported and appreciated – that means the farm workers need to be treated as well as the CEOs
• During pandemics, health care stations should be set up in the fields to support workers
• Agricultural + food-related workers should get paid more, during pandemics they should receive hazard pay, deserve full health benefits, PPE, as well as our gratitude

Lessons for Urban Communities

We are learning how systemic racism has led to community-wide health risks, that in turn have resulted in more people from certain groups susceptible to the virus. So communities that have higher risks of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart issues are the same communities at higher risk of dying from Covid-19.

• It is time to remove “healthy food deserts” chronically seen in poor and communities of color. and support Urban and Community Gardens
• It is past time to support the needy, without judgement, with food assistance, school lunches, targeted public health care, etc.
• Restaurant, home gardens, and farmers need to be fully integrated into food banks so that needs can be met during crisis; food should never spoil or be dumped while people go hungry
• We also need to teach home economics and shop to all high schoolers so they have basic skills to take care of themselves

Middle-class and the poor are now experiencing food insecurity due to job loss, and I hope that any sense of inherent privilege will be modified by this experience. Compassionate support for those in need is not a negative, but a positive aspect of our social contract with our fellow citizens and neighbors.

Lessons for Grocery Stores

In general, a certain segment of the population that traditionally shopped in large, crowded grocery stores, may be lost. Many customers will have switched to online ordering, and shopping at smaller stores, and will continue to do so even after this pandemic. But here are some areas that I think need to be reviewed and will change.

Change In-Store Shopping Experience

My concern is not over the loss of in-store sales, but that people will continue to stock up with ultra processed foods with long shelf life. Thus exacerbating underlying health conditions, making them perhaps more susceptible to a new virus. During this pandemic people are going for long lasting, but also comfort, food.

Meanwhile, grocery stores will need to change and think of their future.

• Plan to implement food and supply rationing quicker
• Implement an ongoing sanitation protocol for carts
• Stockpile PPE for essential grocery + warehouse staff
• More quickly coordinate wait lines with distance markers
• Limit store occupants (square footage / social distance) sooner
• Sponsor special times for those most at risk, or who need help
• Have paper bags stockpiled for 1x use during a crisis

I wonder if stores, like Trader Joes, will find it necessary to widen aisles to prevent the feeling of crowding. Right now the pandemic is dictating we stay away from each other, so the question is, will that fear about being too close continue?

Utilize a Web Site

Stores could be utilizing their on-line presence better. Most, right now, just have a static “ad” with store location and open hours. But you can do so much more.

• Each Store should have an active web site
• Post a limited list of what they are out of, based on obvious panic buying (TP, hand sanitation, etc.) so people do not take a chance and go out, just to find what they need is unavailable
• Post rationing rules so people know up front what they can purchase and how much
• Consider activating an emergency side business for communities at risk by providing shopping + delivery services

Countries are looking at keeping food in-country, as many expect food shipping disruption (already happening). Governments are attempting to make serving their own country first a national priority. Some countries are already losing workers to the virus and cannot ship out food. Either way, expect a decline in the out-of-season, varied choices we have had.

Offer Pick Up Services

Grocery stores should consider creating a “pantry food box” for quick web-based sale and pickup. This box should include supplies (hand sanitizers, paper towels, TP, soap) and basic staples (beans, rice, oatmeal, dried fruit, pasta, tomato sauce, nut butter, nut/cereal milk, bread, and a smattering of veggies + fruit).

Better yet, offer several types of boxes that people can drive up and get. Ideas are perhaps a cleaning box, a fruit + veggie box, a pet box, a vegan box, etc.

Deliver Groceries

I anticipate those of us who are in more urban settings may start to use grocery delivery services more, even after the pandemic crisis is over. I think we will expand beyond using Amazon, to include Instacart, and other national or local services. After all, once you have shopped from home, try imagining going into Costco, fighting the crowds, waiting in line….why?

The other side of this option however is that it is expensive. So we may find poorer people (and foodies like me) shopping in person, and richer people ordering delivery.

Clean Stores Even Better

I do not expect many grocery stores to shutter, as they are doing fine so far, in terms of retail sales. At the same time, the sales of bulk food to restaurants has been affected as restaurants close. But again, I expect direct retail and big box retailers (Costco) will do okay. However, they will need to change their operations.

• Stores should plan for the need to occasionally close for complete, deep cleaning
• All grocery stores should offer hand sanitation at entrances and exits
• All stores should have disinfectant wipes for the grocery carts
• Stores should stockpile PPE for their workers
• Stores may want to rethink the way they sell bulk foods via “all access” bins
• I hope stores go back to bring-your-own bags and stop using plastic

Start to Use Alt Sources

We are going to see an expansion of sources for products. For example, distillers can make hand sanitizers as well as Purell. I anticipate these alternative sources will continue, because I think cleaning our hands with sanitizers will become part of our ongoing routine, and it is a good source of revenue for those small businesses.

If I owned a store, I would also start to build relationships with local farms and farmers who could provide delivery of items needed to keep the shelves full and people fed. Local sources may be the best way to handle global food distribution issues. Additionally, we are all getting used to higher prices for food, so if local farmers have to charge more to make a living, this might be the best time to introduce those costs and make it the new normal.

One other idea, is to build relationships with restaurants and cooking schools. They have TP, paper towels, bulk food, and can make “food to go” for sale in the grocery store. So the key here is to think outside the box and be prepared to utilize local sources better.

Lessons for Restaurants

I expect not every restaurant will return, in fact expectations are that many will not be able to recover from this crisis. But, a certain number will return, and the question is, will there be customers for them?

• Even before the pandemic, I heard from a local, well established Berkeley restaurant owner, that a family member opened a restaurant in another area but was finding it hard to build a customer base. His experience was that the attraction of in-house dining was declining, everyone seemed to want things to-go.

Restaurants are moving from only in-house dining, to delivery and pick-up, as a way to keep employees working and revenue coming in. This may continue for many restaurants, as it may be a while before people are truly comfortable in gathering in large numbers, seated in tight quarters.

Prepared food delivery is being used more during this pandemic, so I expect the habit may take over. We may find more people spending money to have food delivered for home eating, rather than risk going out to a public setting. Of course, this assumes there are brave people still out there delivering food.

Lessons for Raw Food Delivery

I expect more farm-to-home food delivery subscriptions are going to be made available, and are going to be used as a way for us to reduce our in-store shopping, and keep small farms alive. Once you are used to farm fresh food on your doorstep I imagine it will be hard to go back.

• A person who works for me was going to visit a farm to pick up food to deliver to people around the area who should not leave their houses. She was kind enough to offer us a chance to participate and I jumped at the idea. We ordered a box of food for $20. What we received was a big box of all sorts of wonderful greens, herbs, and root veggies. Not only a great deal, but the food looked luscious, fresh, and has tasted absolutely great.

Sorry for such a long post, but I guess I felt there was a lot to say. Please, stay healthy, stay safe, wear a cloth mask when you go out, and keep your distance.

—Patty

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Running out of gloves? Try buying food handler plastic disposable gloves, I have just used them to go shopping and they worked fine. They are also readily available for purchase. Also because it is one size fits all, it was very easy to remove inside out and dispose without any problems.

I wrote a post on cleaning after a recall, which is relevant today for cleaning up after you bring food home. This post will assist you keeping your kitchen very clean and sanitized. Use soap and water or a bleach spray to clean with and you will make a difference.

Cloth masks: Use the masks in public, remove carefully and wash in hot water and soap right away. Let air dry and then you can reuse. Keep in mind the amount of particulates prevented from getting into your lungs depends upon the material used. Thin or holey materials are not advised, you want a high count cotton or hemp or garage rag or doubled materials. And you want a pipe cleaner or wire to tighten about the bridge of your nose.