To Avoid Produce Dumps Some Farmers Started Selling Direct To The Public

By Anthony McLennan

Farmers with excess supplies brought on by the coronavirus lockdown are cutting out the middle man and selling directly to consumers in order to minimise food waste.

Lockdown regulations have resulted in the closure of many businesses and organizations which would usually be supplied by farms.

These include restaurants, cafes, hotels, airliners, cruise ships and schools.

Too much produce, not enough storage

The coronavirus lockdown situation has created an oversupply of fresh farm produce. The farmers themselves have a limited capacity for cold storage.

Some have been donating to food banks and charities. But these institutions also don’t have the facilities to store large amounts of fresh produce such as meat, fish, dairy, fruit and vegetables.

With little option, some farmers have had to destroy the products they worked so hard to make. Milk has been poured away, eggs smashed up and vegetables buried.

Dairy Farmers of America, the country’s largest dairy cooperative, estimated that as much as as 3.7 million gallons of milk is being thrown away daily.

A single chicken farm is reportedly smashing 750,000 unhatched eggs every week. In another case, the Hartschuh Dairy Farm were recently forced to flush 31,000 pounds of milk into a lagoon.

Florida farmers find a solution

Farmers in Florida are selling directly to consumers to prevent food from being destroyed.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has created an online portal to assist with the process.

Similar initiatives are happening around the world and across the U.S, including the Moon Valley Farm in Maryland.

View this post on Instagram

We know that grocery stores are overwhelmed and that some people are feeling more comfortable at home for a while. We believe in our local food system and we know that our bodies can be more resilient when we eat healthy, nutrient-dense veggies, which is why we want to be there for you and bring veggies to your door! We are offering a la carte CSA shares delivered to your home (in the Baltimore & DC areas, not all zip codes applicable) on Tuesdays and Fridays before the start of the CSA season in May. No need to be a current CSA member to participate. Shares will include items from us and our partner farms (@sassafras_creek_farm @kingmushroom15) such as sweet potatoes, kale, mushrooms, microgreens, radishes & carrots. We have some add-ons available as well, including honey, local & organic grains, gourmet mushrooms. To place an order and to see a copy of our order sheet, email [email protected] (yes that’s my mom!!)! We wish you all a genuine laugh & a healthy meal. ????????????????

A post shared by Moon Valley Farm (@moonvalleyfarm) on Mar 14, 2020 at 10:14am PDT

Source: Truth Theory

Image credit:  Julia Sudnitskaya

I’m an experienced journalist who has written for some of South Africa’s biggest publications. Also a photographer, soccer coach, dog-lover and surfer, I enjoy spending time outdoors in beautiful Cape Town. I believe that a new approach is needed to sustain our planet and that it is important to put this message out. Read More stories by Anthony McLennan

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