WG Members Cope with COVID… With Innovation
By Tim Linden O f the $1.4 billion in relief checks already provided to more than 80,000 farmers and ranchers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, less than 2%, about $25 million, has been allocated to specialty crop producers. As is typically the case when it comes to federal government support for agriculture, livestock and field crops are at the front of the line, with the fresh produce industry bringing up the rear. Of course, the industry would love to get some of that $16 billion in direct payments under the USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), but nobody is waiting around for the
windfall. Instead, suppliers have enacted innovative efforts to cope with COVID-19 and keep their businesses relevant and compliant as they deal with a new existential threat to their livelihood. In these pages, we look at how three Western Growers members have met the newest enemy head on and are emerging on the other end stronger for it. D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California, Salinas, CA John D’Arrigo, president of the 90-plus-year-old company, has not had time yet to pencil out the cost of all the COVID-19
At D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California, each packing station on the harvester is screened to minimize contact between packers.
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JULY | AUGUST 2020
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