Coronavirus Illustrates Importance of a Sustainable Food Chain
June 29, 2020 On May 29, something very special happened in my life. I got a haircut. Those of you who know me, and my hairline, are probably formulating a joke right about now. But I assure you, the hair that I do have grows like a weed. Going more than three months between trims, I was getting awfully shaggy.
Just how good I felt after that haircut made me reflect on how much I took it for granted, and how much I appreciate my stylist, Jessica. Especially now that just doing her job comes with some risk of exposure to the coronavirus.
This pandemic, hopefully, is reminding all of us just how much we take for granted. Being restricted from getting out and about, empty store shelves, and no toilet paper (still scratching my head on that one), illustrated things don’t just magically happen. It takes people, order, systems, and infrastructure to make the societal engine run.
We in agriculture can be rather sanctimonious about our importance in the grand scheme of things.
I’d argue our growers have pretty high ground in that regard, being responsible for feeding the masses. But, even we in the ag sector can take for granted all the mechanisms necessary to get food to the people. I don’t think anyone would have dreamed the foodservice segment would have basically shuttered for weeks this spring. But it did, and I — and surely many others — now have a much greater appreciation for what they do.
From the farm on down the chain, we’ve learned a lot from the pandemic and resulting shutdown. We will be in a better position to react if something like this happens again. But in all reality, there is just no way to accommodate all the fresh produce in the system if and when it does.
For that reason, as we work to move beyond the coronavirus, we must take into consideration every stop on the food chain and appreciate that everyone along the way has to make a living and still deliver a quality, nutritious product the consumer can afford. The very foundation of this starts with farmers, who must receive a sustainable price for what they grow when normal market dynamics are in play.
The coronavirus taught us to appreciate the growers, the fieldworkers, those on the packing lines, the truckers, the warehouse folks, the inspectors, the buyers and sellers — everyone who makes fresh produce happen. Don’t forget the plant breeders bringing us new varieties that are more nutritious and productive. Not to mention the other researchers seeking new, more sustainable ways to grow, along with new equipment and technology to aid in that cause. The list goes on and on.
It is amazing what a haircut taught me. It taught me to be more grateful and appreciative of this country and its people. Even with all its flaws, it is still a pretty great place to be — always learning and evolving toward a greater standard. Finally, I appreciate you for all that you do in helping to keep Florida and U.S. agriculture moving forward.
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