Market challenges for local specialty crop producers during the early phase of COVID-19 in North Carolina
In March of 2020, as the number of COVID-19 cases increased in North Carolina (NC), the state encouraged people to stay at home; this included closing restaurants and canceling large events, as well as reducing the number of people gathering. The economic and health crises created by COVID-19 forced...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Lyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food Systems
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/view/991 |
| _version_ | 1797721139536986112 |
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| author | Hannah Dankbar Ethan Phillips Angel Cruz Emma Volk Mark Hoffmann |
| author_facet | Hannah Dankbar Ethan Phillips Angel Cruz Emma Volk Mark Hoffmann |
| author_sort | Hannah Dankbar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In March of 2020, as the number of COVID-19 cases increased in North Carolina (NC), the state encouraged people to stay at home; this included closing restaurants and canceling large events, as well as reducing the number of people gathering. The economic and health crises created by COVID-19 forced specialty crop producers who sell to local markets, such as restaurants and institutions, to pivot their marketing plans as the growing season began to ramp up. This article reports the responses to the first in a series of producer surveys assessing the impact of the economic and health crises on crop production, market channels, and producer concerns during one of the most insecure times in modern history. Results show that producers who could pivot their marketing plans mostly increased sales through online channels and farm stands. However, almost 50% of the usual market channels were reported to be closed due to COVID-19. Additionally, most producers voiced concerns about economic and health safety in the immediate future. To address these concerns as the pandemic unfolded, there was a need for trusted information. Respondents reported that they rely on Extension and other government agencies for this information and updates regarding the pandemic. This survey captured the early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the specialty crop-producing industry in NC. Additional surveys will provide information on how the pandemic evolved during 2020. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:29:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-92ec15e4f1ab434a95619e0c6cb0bd20 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2152-0801 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:29:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Lyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food Systems |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-92ec15e4f1ab434a95619e0c6cb0bd202023-09-02T13:57:23ZengLyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food SystemsJournal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development2152-08012021-08-01104Market challenges for local specialty crop producers during the early phase of COVID-19 in North CarolinaHannah Dankbar0Ethan Phillips1Angel Cruz2Emma Volk3Mark Hoffmann4North Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State UniversityIn March of 2020, as the number of COVID-19 cases increased in North Carolina (NC), the state encouraged people to stay at home; this included closing restaurants and canceling large events, as well as reducing the number of people gathering. The economic and health crises created by COVID-19 forced specialty crop producers who sell to local markets, such as restaurants and institutions, to pivot their marketing plans as the growing season began to ramp up. This article reports the responses to the first in a series of producer surveys assessing the impact of the economic and health crises on crop production, market channels, and producer concerns during one of the most insecure times in modern history. Results show that producers who could pivot their marketing plans mostly increased sales through online channels and farm stands. However, almost 50% of the usual market channels were reported to be closed due to COVID-19. Additionally, most producers voiced concerns about economic and health safety in the immediate future. To address these concerns as the pandemic unfolded, there was a need for trusted information. Respondents reported that they rely on Extension and other government agencies for this information and updates regarding the pandemic. This survey captured the early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the specialty crop-producing industry in NC. Additional surveys will provide information on how the pandemic evolved during 2020.https://www.foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/view/991COVID-19PandemicHorticulture CropsSpecialty Crop ProductionLocal Food Systems |
| spellingShingle | Hannah Dankbar Ethan Phillips Angel Cruz Emma Volk Mark Hoffmann Market challenges for local specialty crop producers during the early phase of COVID-19 in North Carolina Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development COVID-19 Pandemic Horticulture Crops Specialty Crop Production Local Food Systems |
| title | Market challenges for local specialty crop producers during the early phase of COVID-19 in North Carolina |
| title_full | Market challenges for local specialty crop producers during the early phase of COVID-19 in North Carolina |
| title_fullStr | Market challenges for local specialty crop producers during the early phase of COVID-19 in North Carolina |
| title_full_unstemmed | Market challenges for local specialty crop producers during the early phase of COVID-19 in North Carolina |
| title_short | Market challenges for local specialty crop producers during the early phase of COVID-19 in North Carolina |
| title_sort | market challenges for local specialty crop producers during the early phase of covid 19 in north carolina |
| topic | COVID-19 Pandemic Horticulture Crops Specialty Crop Production Local Food Systems |
| url | https://www.foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/view/991 |
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