I recently read an article from the Harvard Business Review titled “That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief.” It’s filed under the category of “Stress” in their archives. Thinking about the stress farmers face every day it seemed pertinent to share this new form of stress that is descending on farm families as they cope with the realities of a global pandemic. Coronavirus has resulted in ‘stay-at-home’ mandates and social distancing. Coronavirus has left us feeling isolated and uncertain.
As the pandemic shuttered farmers markets across the state, the Madison County Farmers Market used its online platform to nimbly pivot to online sales, contributing to the community’s food security during a time of panic and bare shelves in conventional retail sites. This short vignette is part of our “Virginia Food Systems and COVID-19 Story Collection Project” that aims to highlight, collect, and share stories of hope and resilience in our food system amidst the pandemic.