Food

RSS

Local and regional agriculture and food markets stand to lose up to $688.7 million in sales through May because of the shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to analysts familiar with the sector.

The restaurant industry estimates it will lose $225 billion, 25% of its annual revenue, if the industry is shut down for three months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Food and Drug Administration is suspending routine surveillance inspections of U.S. facilities, citing concern for its staff and state contractors who conduct the plant checks.

President Donald Trump signed into law a COVID-19 relief package that expands domestic feeding programs and suspends the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s work requirements during the crisis.

Farm groups are appealing to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to take steps to speed the approval of H-2A workers following his department’s suspension of regular visa processing services in Mexico because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The White House is asking Congress for $45.8 billion to cover the rising cost to the Agriculture Department and other departments and agencies of responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

The coronavirus has sent the markets into a tailspin, closed down schools, and turned restaurants into to-go stands. But so far, agriculture’s intricate supply chain is – for the most part – still turning.

A coordinating structure that was first established in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks is diligently working to protect US food production and avoid potential COVID-19 disruptions in the food supply chain. It’s not been easy.

The USDA GIPSA proposal billed as bringing “clarity” to regulations enforcing the Packers and Stockyards Act is receiving opposition from some prominent government officials, including a commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission and eight state attorneys general.