Food Supply Chains, Family Farming, and Food Policies under the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Brazilian City

Abstract

The food system in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, experienced changes that reflected the uncertainties and restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study describes urban and periurban family farmers’ ongoing strategies to adapt to changes in the local food supply chains (FSCs) after the temporary suspension of farmers’ markets and government programs directed to small-scale agriculture. Their disruption proved problematic for the farmers and the vulnerable populations served by them. As a result, some farmers redirected their products’ commercialization to delivery or pickup services. Based on observations and conversations with producers and retail intermediaries, we show that farmers’ delivery and pickup-based sales increased dramatically with the pandemic. The sustainability of these practices is unknown, although they have strengthened forms of cooperation and commercialization amongst farmers, mainly through online marketing. Based on the results, the study provides a series of research questions to explore food systems and FSCs under severe social disruption.