As we mark the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has had on every element of the food value chain (and our lives), it’s a good time to reflect on the lessons we have learned, look for the “silver linings,” and honestly assess the challenges we face. The latest issue of The AgriNutrition Edge Report looks at how grocery stores have responded to pandemic-related changes in consumer shopping habits and includes thoughts on how the sector may adapt in the future. It also celebrates the commitment of grocery store workers who worked through difficult days to keep food on the shelves or in our online shopping carts.
In addition, this issue highlights the public health systems we know today as they were the positive outcomes of the 1918 Spanish Flu. These “silver linings” remind us of the positive changes we have made, and will continue to make, in response to the current pandemic, while also acknowledging and responding to gaps in well being among those most severely impacted.
Finally, to mark March as National Nutrition Month, the issue references an article from The Atlantic that explores how “personalizing your plate” has new meaning as eating habits have shifted during the pandemic. Will the “three meals per day” norm return?