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On Farming in a Pandemic:
This needs to be said. Desperately.
People are complaining about not having certain food items like sour cream or flour. They’re acting like this is a big personal insult.
Ok peeps it’s not. Get over yourself and sit down for a lesson in supply chains 1/
This needs to be said. Desperately.
People are complaining about not having certain food items like sour cream or flour. They’re acting like this is a big personal insult.
Ok peeps it’s not. Get over yourself and sit down for a lesson in supply chains 1/
The supply chain is actually a fragile machine with many interlocking parts. It can get screwed up in a heartbeat.
Like the toilet paper fiasco. People couldn’t get it and they blamed others for their inconvenience. Um... where do most people use the restrooms most of the time?2/
Like the toilet paper fiasco. People couldn’t get it and they blamed others for their inconvenience. Um... where do most people use the restrooms most of the time?2/
At work.
That supply chain is fully stocked and good to go. But when the toilet paper usage switched to primarily home use, it put a burden on it until things can be shifted from one chain to another. Yes some people hoarded but the big problem was demand switch.
Which brings 3/
That supply chain is fully stocked and good to go. But when the toilet paper usage switched to primarily home use, it put a burden on it until things can be shifted from one chain to another. Yes some people hoarded but the big problem was demand switch.
Which brings 3/
me to farmers and why you can’t get your sour cream right now.
Where are people eating almost everyday now vs where did they eat before?
The answer is the same as the toilet paper one. Home vs out. People are eating at home. They need food to cook.
Before #COVID19 most people 4/
Where are people eating almost everyday now vs where did they eat before?
The answer is the same as the toilet paper one. Home vs out. People are eating at home. They need food to cook.
Before #COVID19 most people 4/
ate out 2-4 times per week. 6% of our population ate out or had premade meals all the time.
This is no longer an option.
To give numbers 60% of our bacon, 45% of our dairy, 53% of our meat and fresh produce production went to the restaurant supply chain.
That supply chain is 5/
This is no longer an option.
To give numbers 60% of our bacon, 45% of our dairy, 53% of our meat and fresh produce production went to the restaurant supply chain.
That supply chain is 5/
at a dead stop. That food is no longer on order from our farmers. People are getting food in stores and they haven’t increased orders to match demand.
Seems simple right? Well it isn’t. Farmers set their contracts up 1-2 years out. They grow pigs or milk or veg on a by order 6/
Seems simple right? Well it isn’t. Farmers set their contracts up 1-2 years out. They grow pigs or milk or veg on a by order 6/
basis. Those contracts for almost 50% of our farm produce are no good anymore and the supply chain hasn’t shifted. It won’t shift for at least several more months.
Consequently farmers are left with a horrible choice. To try to keep feeding livestock and maintaining produce w/ 7/
Consequently farmers are left with a horrible choice. To try to keep feeding livestock and maintaining produce w/ 7/
no contracts and no way to get them. Or to start dumping. So they’re dumping. Millions of gallons of milk, vegetables rotting in the fields, pigs and cows slaughtered too young and sold for what they’ll bring. The supply chain is broken. Maybe you should support local food 8/
now rather than complain about mean people taking your sour cream. It wasn’t yours to begin with and better to shoot a cow than watch it starve.
Yes. Shooting livestock is already happening. This fall is going to suck. /fin #COVIDIOTS #SupplyChain #food
Yes. Shooting livestock is already happening. This fall is going to suck. /fin #COVIDIOTS #SupplyChain #food
