April 2020 - 1

Scientists team up to
improve blueberries,
cranberries
Guide a go-to for
monitoring grapevine
disorders
6
14
18
Test nutrients in spring
to get good strawberry
crop
April 2020 | Volume 59 |
Issue 4
Pandemic spread
complicates growing,
produce markets
Salesman Brian Hake, left, worked from
from home, and other employees of
Domex Superfresh Growers continued
farm and distribution operations in March
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photos: Superfresh Growers
By Stephen Kloosterman
Associate Editor
Editor's note: This story was written
in late March, as the industry and officials
were still adjusting their approach to a
global pandemic.
The new coronavirus in March shut
down or slowed most U.S. businesses,
while specialty crop growers remained a
bright spot of industry.
State and federal authorities rightly
designated agriculture as a vital
enterprise and exempted growers,
their employees and other food-related
business from shelter-in-place orders
and other restrictions.
And so, growers and the greater
industry found themselves gearing up
for work, while neighbors were slowing
down or ceasing.
In March, growers and industry leaders
began to navigate rapidly-changing
conditions for produce, be it fresh,
frozen or processed. Work to meet wild
consumer trends, discussion of food
safety practices and bravely continuing
farm operations were among the rapids
they navigated.
Work goes on
Like businesses across the country,
Yakima, Washington-based Domex
Superfresh Growers took a moment in the
early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to
tell its colleagues and clients that it hadn't
stopped shipping fruit.
A post on Facebook showed Superfresh
salesman Brian Hake working from home
and other employees engaged in shipping
and orchard pruning.
" Through the efforts of our team at
Superfresh Growers, we continue to supply
safe, fresh and nutritious Northwest fruit
to a world that needs it more than ever, "
Director of Marketing Mike Preacher told
Fruit Growers News. " The safety of our
teams is top priority, of course, so we are
adhering to recommendations of federal
and local agencies. Despite the challenges,
there is an uplifting sense of service across
our organization, knowing we are helping
communities around the world contend
with this crisis. "
It was the same for many other growers
of specialty crops.
Optimum Agriculture, a multinational
company that manages farmland
and agricultural operations in several
countries, was concerned about its
operations in the Southeast U.S., where it
grows watermelons, citrus and a variety of
vegetables in Florida and Georgia.
Gaston Marquevich, CEO of Optimum
Agriculture, said March 24 it was meeting a
variety of challenges. Agricultural labor was
a concern. The company had some import
activities, and restrictions at the border had
been tightened. Even in the office, essential
staff's routines changed drastically.
" We're following all recommendations
in terms of not having any meetings in the
office, " he said. " We're not bringing in any
outside people. Of course, it's not normal. "
Nevertheless, he was determined to
continue the production of fruits and
vegetables.
" I think the key is, food supply is
essential, " he said.
Government recognition
Government officials at the federal, state
and local levels agreed, marking agriculture
and other food-production activities as
exempt from shelter-in-place orders and
other restrictions meant to slow the spread
of the virus.
See COVID-19, page 5
April 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2020
