(IARN) — Many dining establishments across the United States have been restricted to carryout and delivery options. The way consumers obtain goods has drastically changed within the past couple of weeks. However, “the nation’s food supply system remains strong,” says U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
Secretary Perdue today paid tribute to “hereos of the U.S. food supply chain,” who continue to keep store shelves stocked. He wants to ensure our supply chain remains intact, as COVID-19 impacts our day-to-day life.
“We don’t want to have a panic next fall because we don’t have enough food,” Secretary Perdue said. “We have some demand issues right now. We don’t want to have supply chain (issues), and we don’t.”
“It is a big shift, especially when you think about the meat industry. We’re moving a tremendous amount of demand for meat away from the hotel, restaurant, and institutional trade into the retail grocery store trade. That’s a big shift not only in where people pick food up, but in terms of the types of products that are typically demanded in a retail grocery store versus what’s demanded in that hotel, restaurant, institutional trade,” Perdue sadi.
Meat processors were forced to make significant adjustments, including changes to cutting lines and management of cold storage facilities, and working with different wholesalers.
“Those changes are taking place as we speak. The good news I think, from a producer perspective, is those products are still in demand. That’s true here in the United States, as well as elsewhere around the world,” Mintert said.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
