COVID-19

As part of our mission to help you navigate key challenges and issues that arise, NABC has compiled a set of resources specific to COVID-19 and what it means to your business and the blueberry industry. See below for links to the latest information and assistance from relevant federal agencies and NABC.

About the Virus

1. Key Facts about COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2. Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
3. Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
4. COVID-19 Global Cases Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University

Supply Chain Implications

• General
  1. Coronavirus Food Assistance Program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
  2. Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  3. COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
  4. Interim Guidance from CDC and the U.S. Department of Labor by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  5. Agricultural Employer Checklist for Creating a COVID-19 Assessment and Control Plan by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Labor 
  1. Guidance for Businesses and Employers by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  2. H-2A Visa Program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
  3. COVID-19 Overview by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
  4. COVID-19 Standards by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
  5. Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
  6. Identifying Critical Infrastructure During COVID-19 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  7. COVID-19 Essential Employee Letter by the North American Blueberry Council
  8. Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans With Disabilities Act by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  9. Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) FAQ’s: Related to COVID-19 Impact on the Fruit and Vegetable Industry by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  10. COVID-19 Webinar: Labor and Workplace Q&A by the North American Blueberry Council
  11. Interim Guidance for Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Farming/Growing
  • Coronavirus and Drinking Water and Wastewater by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
  • Pesticides: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency

• Import/Export
• Manufacturing and Warehouse
  1. FDA Provides Temporary Flexibility Regarding Nutrition Labeling of Certain Packaged Food in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Transportation and Distribution

1. COVID-19 FAQ for Foodservice: Receiving and Food Packaging by North Carolina State University
2. COVID-19 FAQ for Grocery Stores: Receiving and Food Packaging by North Carolina State University

• Point of Purchase

1. Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-Up/Delivery Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic by U.S. Food and Drug Administration
2. COVID-19 FAQ for Grocery Stores: General Questions and Employee Health by North Carolina State University
3. COVID-19 FAQ for Foodservice: General Questions and Employee Health by North Carolina State University
4. COVID-19 Food Safety FAQ for Takeout by North Carolina State University
5. Handling COVID-19 at Farmers’ Markets by North Carolina State University
6. Handling COVID-19 at U-Pick Farms by North Carolina State University
7. Handling COVID-19 at Community Gardens by North Carolina State University
8. COVID-19 Impact by FoodMinds and the North American Blueberry Council
9. Berry Category Weekly Volume and Pricing Trends at Retail w/e 4.18 by FoodMinds and the North American Blueberry Council

Consumer Food Safety at Home

1. COVID-19 and Food Safety FAQ by North Carolina State University
2. COVID-19 and Food Safety FAQ: Shopping and Handling Groceries by North Carolina State University
3. Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Homes and Residential Communities by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources by the Produce For Better Health Foundation

EXPERT ASSISTANCE

If you’re experiencing any issues with supply chain/moving food/transportation, contact FEMA at [email protected]. This is a 24/7 operation of the National Business Emergency Operations Center. They will direct your inquiry to the proper party.

If you have questions for USDA about H-2A Visa processing, email [email protected].

If you have questions about food safety and COVID-19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition is accepting submissions here.

NABC COVID-19 NEWSLETTER

For the full archive of COVID-19 Daily News Reports from NABC, view here.

STAY IN TOUCH

Do you have other thoughts, questions, ideas or concerns? Tell us how NABC can help. Reach out to [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.