“Grocery Prices are Soaring. Here’s What’s Getting More Expensive” by David Goldman, CNN Business, May 14th, 2020

 

Highlights and Summary:

•  “the price of groceries grew 2.6%, including seasonal adjustments, in April.”

• The food supply chain has been disrupted: even though there are areas of excess food (ex: what would usually go to restaurants) it isn’t that easy to shift the food to grocery stores, where there is now a much higher demand

 

Why this applies to NGH: More expensive food means people can buy less food, and the food they do buy is going to be lower quality 

 

 

“Covid-19 Crisis Heaps Pressure on Nation’s Food Banks” by Kenzi Abou-Sabe, Christine Romo, Cynthia McFadden and Jaime Longoria, NBC News, April 8th, 2020

 

Highlights and Summary:

• Grocery stores who would usually donate food to food banks do not have any extra food to give away. It is expected that soon “those donations will drop to zero." (Brian Banks, CEO of Foodbank for the Heartland)

• Feeding America reported that “92 percent [of food banks] said they were seeing increased need, while 64 percent said food donations had declined”

  • Food banks are having to buy food instead of having it donated. This puts stress on already tight budgets.

• Many food banks are run by senior citizens, and so not only pose a threat to customers but also workers and volunteers. As a result, many have closed down. Ways to minimize contact have been attempted, such as drive throughs to pick up food, but still leaves many holes in the system and relies on factors, such as possession of a car, that prevent some people from getting food. 

• People who never needed food before are now relying on organizations to provide them with necessary sustenance: "Whatever constellation of economic factors comes to bear on them, they went from having a middle-class life to being in need of hunger relief services in a snap of a finger"

 

Why this applies to NGH: NGH does not rely on donations from supermarkets, so we are able to purchase food in times where donations of it are not viable. The increased need caused by food banks closing and more people going hungry means it is essential for more free food to be circulated into the system. Furthermore, for those who have never had to go to a food bank before, NGH’s bag system might seem more accessible and comfortable. Finally, NGH hopes to expand to delivering food to those who can’t come out to get it, which means that nobody will not have access to food because they don’t possess a car or have any other barriers. 

 

 

“Small Farms Also Struggle as Restaurant Shut Down Due to Coronavirus” by Lisa Held, Civil Eats, March 17th, 2020

 

Highlights and Summary:

• Many small, local farms rely on the restaurant industry to buy their meats and produce. Zaid Kurdieh of Norwich Meadows Farm estimates “that about 60 percent of his business depends on restaurants, and at this time of year, that number is closer to 75 percent.”

• Schools buy food from local farms, especially milk and produce. Their closures means lunch programs have stopped and farms are stuck with all of that excess food. 

• Farmers are now trying to sell directly to customers, and support from local communities can help them keep afloat.

 

Why this applies to NGH: NGH wants to support as much of the community as possible. With enough donations, NGH can start purchasing food from local farmers to include in bags. This means that not only are recipients of bags getting fresh, nutritious food, but local farms will be supported. In a valley that is surrounded by such farms, it is impossible to say that they are not integral to our community, and we should do everything we can to help them during this time.