Does not matter: Summer harvest could fuel coronavirus spike — The food box fan club

Jun 10, 2020

Quick Fix

— The coronavirus is quickly spreading among farmworkers, and the industry fears that cases could skyrocket this summer as more crews are sent into fields to pick crops and migrant laborers fan out to new states where the harvest is starting.

— A coalition to promote the Agriculture Department's $3 billion food box program is soliciting new members, including food distributors and anti-hunger nonprofits. The push for positive press comes amid scrutiny from lawmakers about how USDA selected companies to participate.

— House Republicans want USDA to loosen meatpacking regulations that they say keep small processors from surviving in the heavily concentrated industry, which is currently in the spotlight after coronavirus-related plant closures and antitrust investigations into large meat companies.

HAPPY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10! Welcome to Morning Ag, where we could go for some peach pizza today. Send tips to rmccrimmon@politico.com and @ryanmccrimmon, and follow us @Morning_Ag.

Driving the Day

SUMMER HARVEST COULD FUEL CORONAVIRUS SPIKE: Farm laborers are deemed essential workers, given their critical role in the food supply chain, but the Trump administration so far has left it up to farmers to protect their workforce from getting sick in lieu of mandatory safety rules. Labor advocates say too many ag employers still haven't taken enough precautions, as farms in nearly every region are seeing a spike in positive cases, writes Pro Ag's Liz Crampton.

To name a few: More than 100 farmworkers at large produce operations in New Jersey contracted the virus in May. Nearly 500 laborers have been infected in Washington's Yakima Valley, which produces most of the nation's tree fruit. And there are now around 500 cases in Immokalee, a major tomato-growing region in South Florida.

What to do? Labor leaders are asking for more testing at farms and worker camps, safer housing accommodations and extra financial and health benefits. In the absence of federal protections, they're turning to state leaders for support instead.

More spread ahead? Out of some 2.5 million workers, about a quarter of the farm labor force follows the harvest from region to region, potentially helping the coronavirus spread to more states and more farms in the coming weeks — just as cities and states are lifting lockdown restrictions and businesses reopen.

— For example, tomato season is wrapping up in Florida, and pickers are beginning to move north to harvest other types of crops. Doctors Without Borders, which set up a mobile clinic in Immokalee to test farmworkers and distribute sanitation products, is now evaluating where to travel next.

— "Covid is here for the foreseeable future," said Jean Stowell, head of the group's U.S. coronavirus team. "So the issue of not having access to safe isolation will continue to be a problem for this community wherever they move, whether it's Immokalee or Michigan."

NEXT WEEK - A VIRTUAL CONVERSATION ON WATER SECURITY : How can we secure long-term solutions at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic consumes the attention and resources of local and state leaders? Join POLITICO on Monday, June 15 at 10:20 a.m. EDT for a virtual panel discussion on the policies and legislation needed at the state, regional and federal levels to meet the water needs of Western states. REGISTER HERE.

THE FOOD BOX PROGRAM FAN CLUB: The newly formed Farmers to Families Food Box Program Coalition is pitching anti-hunger organizations to join its effort to promote USDA's $3 billion commodity purchase program, which has been under fire since May for handing out lucrative contracts to companies with little experience in food distribution, Pro Ag's Helena Bottemiller Evich reports.

Behind the coalition is Dale Apley, whose consulting firm Black Watch Agribusiness advises companies on government contracts, sourcing and risk management, according to its website. Apley said the group includes about a quarter of the nearly 200 distributors awarded funds to deliver meat, dairy and produce to food banks, along with 150 other nonprofits.

More details: The coalition is currently focused on keeping the food box program running through the end of the year. It sent emails to other anti-hunger groups this week seeking more members. Nonprofits can join for free, but businesses must pay a fee.

MEAT PLANTS ARE BACK… NOW WHAT? Slaughterhouses across the country have resumed operations after shutting down because of severe coronavirus outbreaks; USDA said on Tuesday that poultry, pork and beef processing capacity is back to at least 95 percent of 2019 levels. But the historic disruptions in recent months have put the highly concentrated meat industry in the spotlight of lawmakers and antitrust investigators.

Republicans on the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee are now calling on USDA to make it easier for small meatpackers to get a foothold in the industry by easing regulations on product labeling, food safety inspections and other issues, Liz reports.

— "The high cost of complying with meat processing laws has made it hard for smaller processors to compete and has led to significant consolidation in the industry," wrote the GOP members, led by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan.

Food safety advocates pushed back on the proposals: Brian Ronholm, food policy director at Consumer Reports, said it's a "dangerous idea" to cut food safety regulations regardless of a meatpacker's size or production methods.

"Hazardous food-borne pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria that kill thousands every year do not bypass certain facilities just because its method of production is perceived to be more charming than another," Ronholm said in a statement.

In general, small meatpackers have fared well amid the pandemic, as we flagged a few weeks ago. They haven't faced the devastating outbreaks common at large slaughterhouses, and they've seen a surge of business from farmers and ranchers desperate to sell their livestock.

HOUSE AGGIES QUESTION USDA FARM PAYMENTS: House Agriculture Chair Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and three subcommittee chairs sent Secretary Sonny Perdue a letter on Tuesday flagging a handful of issues with USDA's $16 billion direct payment program. The department so far has funneled $1.4 billion to farmers and ranchers burned by supply chain disruptions.

Their concerns include: Limited staffing in Farm Service Agency county offices to help producers enroll in the program; an "arbitrary" timeline for measuring livestock losses; and a failure to "recognize the cost premium of organic crops" or livestock raised for higher value markets, like grass-fed beef.

WINNERS PLAY THE LONG GAME: Interested in building a sustainable future for generations to come? "The Long Game" is designed for executives, investors and policymakers leading the conversation about how society can thrive in the future. Engage with the sharpest minds on our biggest challenges, from pandemics to plastics, climate change to land use, inequality and the future of work. Subscribe today for a nuanced look at these issues and possible solutions.

Row Crops

— A political feud between Florida Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried, a Democrat, and Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, is making the state's ag industry nervous about losing out on critical coronavirus aid and disaster relief. Pro Florida's Bruce Ritchie has the story this a.m.

— The EU will take "decisive" legal action against members of the bloc that violate rules on pesticides and animal welfare, according to a letter from the EU's health and food safety commissioner. Brussels is aiming to rapidly reduce the use of weedkillers and other agrichemicals under its recent Farm to Fork sustainability plan. More from POLITICO Europe.

— U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer isn't backing any candidate for WTO director-general. USTR said Lighthizer also doesn't think that the next WTO chief must be from a developed country, refuting remarks from European Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan, who is considering a run for director-general, Pro Trade's Doug Palmer reports.

— Wireless companies scored a victory on Tuesday when the FCC voted to clarify rules for installing 5G equipment, which the industry said will help fast-track the buildout of 5G infrastructure. Pro Tech's John Hendel has the details.

— Joshua Shields is joining South Dakota-based biofuels producer POET as senior vice president of government affairs and communications. He was chief of staff for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and previously led government affairs for Black Hills Energy, per Morning Energy.

— Green America's Center for Sustainability Solutions named Courtney Pineau senior director of climate and ag networks, leading the group's work on carbon farming, soil health initiatives and other issues. Pineau was previously associate director at the Non-GMO Project.

Follow us on Twitter