The Response of the Maine Food System to the Onset of COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 crisis had an immediate and extensive effect on food systems. Consumers suffered income shocks. Restaurants were forced to close. Wholesale markets for agricultural and seafood products disappeared. Retail food outlets had to balance increased demand, bottlenecks in their ability to resupply, and concerns for the health of their customers. Uncertainty about when these challenges would lessen contributed to the complexity of the decisions facing actors all throughout the system. In this article, we bring together data from various sources to describe the response of the Maine food system to the onset of this crisis. Our descriptive analysis includes the actions, concerns, and adaptations of food producers, consumers, and vendors as they sought to weather and adapt to a challenging situation. The purpose of this analysis is not to second-guess the actions of those who grow, distribute, or consume food in Maine. Rather, it is to better understand how the food system responded to an acute crisis and how to create a more resilient, efficient, and inclusive food system. figure 1: Maine Food System Wages