COVID-19
Grower resources
Please also see Consumer resources at the bottom of this page.
CFVGA COVID-19 Ag Producer Feedback Surveys
April 8, 2020 | Summary pdf | Report pdf
June 3, 2020 | Summary pdf | Report pdf
CFVGA will conduct periodic surveys to provide situational reports.
Click on a page section below to jump to that section:
External communications
Reaching Out to Customers in an Ever-Changing COVID-19 Environment
Free webinar Wednesday, March 25 from 12:10 – 1:10 pm.
Diane Mulligan has more than 15 years of journalism experience complementing her 16 years of award-winning communications/PR experience. In her career, Diane has worked as a Senior Editor at NBC News in New York, Vice President of National Communications for the National Stroke Association and founder of M&C Communications in 2009 working with organizations such as The Colorado Department of Agriculture, Rocky Ford Growers Association, Hirakata Farms, CFVGA, Colorado Chefs Association and King Soopers.
Hear an interview by Brian Allmer of the The BARN with Diane Mulligan, webinar presenter as preview of the webinar
Hear an interview by Lorrie Boyer of KSIR radio with Diane Mulligan
6 Weeks to Improve Resiliency For Farmers
Why is it that some farmers can handle a lot of stress? Researchers have examined differences and the key is your capacity for stress resilience. Resilience is important, as we are all subject to the unknown. While we cannot always anticipate when risk factors or stressful events enter our lives we can learn how to manage our response to stress. This FREE webinar series, 6 Weeks to Improve Resiliency for Farmers, will equip you with tools and skills to effectively manage aches and pains, increase your resilience towards crises and stressful situations such as COVID-19 related workforce, marketplace and business health challenges, plus help you maintain steady energy throughout the day with enhanced focus and confidence.
Lauren Ziegler is a teacher of mindfulness and meditation since 2012. She holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota with an emphasis in mindfulness-based stress reduction. She is a leader in the Center for Mindfulness at Colorado State University. She has advanced formal and clinical training and is certified with the International Association of Yoga Therapists. She has specialized expertise working with spinal decompression, chronic pain management and anxiety. Lauren is a speaker and educator leading over a hundred thousand people in guided meditation for stress reduction, relaxation and deep sleep. She provides a blend of education and practical, experiential tools with the goal of showing you how to use them as needed to feel better, think better and work better.
The series dates are Thursdays, April 9, 16, 23, 30 and May 7 and 14.
Each session builds upon the last session, so you are encouraged to attend all.
Sessions are only 30 minutes for you to learn and get on with your day! NOTE: separate registration for each session.
Week 1: Resilience: Navigating changes
Thursday, April 9 from 12:10 – 12:40
“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” -Charles Darwin. In this session we’ll look at what helps build resilience and awareness, as well as a tool to organize your mind as you reassess priorities and respond to changing conditions.
Week 3: Hands-on Tools for Stress Management
Thursday, April 23 from 12:10 – 12:40
In this session, we will discuss stress management, what happens with the stress response and how to wield stress into being an asset, without getting destroyed by it. You will learn an incredibly useful tool that you can do anywhere, anytime to manage stress. You will learn how to override your tendency for negativity and how to improve your health by shifting perspectives of people and processes.
Week 4: Exercises During Work
Thursday, April 30 from 12:10 – 12:40
This session will equip you with a tool to increase stamina throughout the day and train your brain to focus better. We will discuss what it means to get healthy movement throughout the day as well as how to return your body and brain to baseline in order to improve energy and endurance.
Week 5: Tools for Insomnia
Thursday, May 7 from 12:10 – 12:40
This session will show you the latest research on sleep and what you can do to set yourself up to sleep better without medication. You will learn tools for resting well at the end of the day and for relaxation, including “Tense and Release”, an exercise effectively used with the military, veterans and for PTSD.
Week 6: Lifestyle for High Performance Moving Forward
Thursday, May 14 from 12:10 – 12:40
This session is about supporting high performance by discussing how to move forward with mindfulness by “setting the day” with goals, because small changes ripple outwards. You will learn a 2-minute mindfulness tool to take stock of everything and we will do a review of all of the skills you learned in this series. Click here for more resources from Lauren Ziegler
Workforce/Employer
Government Support and Legal
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employer Paid Leave Requirements | Western Growers Summary of Provisions
H-2A modifications and status at USDA
Response and Prevention
Western Growers Employer Guidance and Resources
CDC Guidance for Ag Workers and Employers | Hierarchy of Controls (NIOSH) | Ag Employer Checklist for Assessment and Control
CDPHE Guidance for the Agriculture Industry
COVID-19 Response Plan Template for Fruit and Veg Farms from Univ Minnesota
Spanish translated COVID-19 resources from CDPHE | Source page
Cornell Farmerworker Spanish page
Western Growers: Procedure for Proper Use of Face Masks for Farm Workers
According to CDA, farms and ranches may request PPE through Colo local emergency managers | See media section week of June 1
Mitigation
CDPHE Guidance for the Agriculture Industry
CDC Guidance for Safety Protocols when ag worker is exposed or tests positive
Food Industry Recommended Protocols When Employee/Customer Tests Positive for COVID- 19
April 14, 2020 Webinar:
Worker Health and Hygiene During COVID-19 | Learn up-to-date best practices for keeping your workforce healthy and safe, as well as resources to use on your farm.
Additional resources at Colorado Produce Safety Collaborative
April 21, 2020 Webinar:
Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting on Your Produce Farm During COVID-19 | Learn which products and strategies are appropriate for different surfaces and uses in production, handling, and sales of fresh produce and other food products.
Additional resources at Colorado Produce Safety Collaborative
April 28, 2020 Webinar:
Point of Sale Best Practices During COVID-19 | Learn about strategies and approaches to keep farm staff, other vendors, and customers safe and healthy at a variety of sales venues, based on recommendations sourced from public health authorities and businesses across the US.
Additional resources at Colorado Produce Safety Collaborative
August 6, 2020 Webinar:
What to do if an ag employee tests positive for COVID19 | Join us for a Colorado agriculture sector oriented presentation from COVID-19 mitigation leaders at Colorado Department of Health and the Environment as they explain key points of outbreak mitigation as determined by County or State public health officials after a positive COVID-19 case is reported to public health. Q and A will follow the presentation.
Additional resources at CDPHE’s Guidance for the Agriculture Industry
September 10, 2020 Webinar:
COVID-19 legal considerations for Colorado agriculture employers and employees | What are the requirements for paid sick leave and health information disclosures and what are the potential liabilities for ag employers? What financial supports and job retention are ag employees entitled to? Kathleen O’Grady and Jonathan Siegel from JacksonLewis, a US labor and employment law firm, explain legal responsibilities and rights related to COVID-19 for the Colorado agriculture sector.
Feb 18, 2021 CFVGA Conference Session: Keeping Farmworkers Covid Safe
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, and it will once again impact the 2021 growing season. Whether you hire a local workforce or utilize the H-2A program, learn about the effective strategies used to prevent outbreaks last year and what you can be doing now to prepare for the upcoming season. We will also review the latest information on vaccine distribution in Colorado.
Farm Sign: Where to Get Vaccinated
Handout: COVID19 Resources for Ag
Financial and Business Resources
Colorado Farm and Food Systems Respond and Rebuild Fund
Colorado OEDIT COVID-19 Business Resource Center
Economic Injury Disaster Loans now open to ag enterprises
Small Business Administration COVID-19 Guidance and Resources
USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – includes direct support to farmers and ranchers
Farm Commons COVID-19 resources
American Farmland Trust Farmer Relief Fund
Western Growers – Summary of March 26 Feb Stimulus Bill | Summary of Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Colorado COVID-19 Matchmaking: Food, resources, labor, technical assistance
As part of the social distancing measures required to combat COVID-19, the way people, institutions, and governments buy and acquired food has changed. We recognize that this has disrupted markets for some Colorado producers at the same time as it has created some new opportunities. In order to promote information sharing such that buyers get access to Colorado grown and raised products and producers are informed about emerging market opportunities and resources needed for production we created this spreadsheet. Please use this spreadsheet to enter information about:
· Farm grown and ranch raised product(s) that you have available for sale;
· Food product(s) that you or your business/institution are looking to purchase;
· Assets that you have available to store or transport product (e.g., freezers, trucks);
· Areas where you need technical assistance or other support (e.g., help making products available online);
· Supplies or services needed for your business;
· Labor that is needed or available for hire.
In order to ensure this spreadsheet stays up to date, the list moderator (Adrian Card: adrian.card@colostate.edu) will remove all listings that are over 14 days old. If you have questions, please contact: Marion Kalb Marion.Kalb@denvergov.org
Marketplace
USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program
Online sales platforms for farmers
Colorado Proud – online marketplace for Colorado food products
Colorado COVID-19 Matchmaking: Food, resources, labor, technical assistance – see food tab in this spreadsheet
Other resources
Colorado Produce Safety Collaborative – COVID-19 page | Produce Grower Info Card
Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment COVID-19
Colorado Department of Agriculture COVID-19
Western Growers COVID-19 Resources Page
Produce Marketing Association COVID-19
United Fresh Coronavirus Fresh Produce Industry Resource Page
Centers for Disease Control COVID-19
FDA on Food Safety and COVID-19
Media Stories
Week of July 20:
Fresh veg sales at retail up 16% from year-ago levels
Foodservice groups praise COVID-19 tax bill
Week of July 13:
Produce sales for Fourth of July week 9% higher than 2019
Week of July 6:
Online grocery sales increase 9% in June
Week of June 30:
USDA announces new Farmer to Families Food Box contracts
Produce Marketing Association Announces Fresh Summit as a Virtual Experience
Week of June 8:
Vegetables continue to outpace fruit as produce sales remain elevated
In the pandemic: Can-do attitudes, feeding families and online sales
Week of June 1:
Personal Protective Equipment Available for Colorado’s Ag Operations
USDA plans second round of Farmers to Families box contracts
House ag members question USDA on food box contracts
Liability protection sought in coronavirus assistance package
Foodservice closures: where does the produce go?
Week of May 4:
How COVID-19 will change healthy and sustainable retailing
USDA plans to buy $105 million in surplus produce
Survey: 47% of households report pay cut, job loss amid COVID-19
Week of April 27:
USDA: SNAP benefits up 40 percent
Feeding America invites distributors for collaboration on Farmers to Families Produce Box
Week of April 20:
Fruit and vegetable industry targeted for $2.7 billion in financial relief
Week of April 13:
Temporary rule to help H-2A employers find farm workers
USDA Announces Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Week of April 6:
Lawmakers, industry leaders, lobby for produce relief program | Direct link to proposal
Produce sales growth slows as COVID-19 crisis continues
PMA campaign addresses consumer COVID-19 concerns
Week of March 30:
PMA’s virtual town halls keeping industry close despite social distancing
Industry leaders reach out to USDA about stimulus funds
Produce sale during COVID-19 by the numbers
Week of March 23:
Fresh produce sales up 33.9% amid growing number of COVID-19 cases
Week of March 16:
Experts say empty shelves are “not a supply issue”
Food service distributions, restaurants, seek federal support
Colorado Produce Industry Responds to COVID-19
CFVGA to Offer Growers Free Webinar on Communicating with Customers March 25
Western Growers, Ag Coalitions Sends Letter to President Trump
Emergency Hours-of-service Relief Declared for Truck Drivers
Consumer resources
Feeding Colorado – network of Colorado Food Banks
Colorado Department of Health and the Environment COVID-19
United Fresh Consumer Resource Page
Centers for Disease Control COVID-19
CDC How to Protect Yourself from COVID-19
Johns Hopkins Public Health On Call Podcasts
How Produce Boosts the Immune System
