The Significance of Local and Regional Food Systems for Community Resilience: If Not Now, Then When?

With our busy schedules, and under normal conditions, we often take working farms and landscapes for granted and do not notice the beauty of our surroundings, the cultural fabric of society, or consider the foundational economic and community impact of farm and food businesses. It is sometimes forgotten how interconnected we are as we go to work or move about our daily activities. Presently, the significance of local and regional food systems to community resilience cannot be overstated. During this unsettling time of social distancing and working to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19), we may have a brief moment to reflect on and appreciate how a strong agricultural base and diverse food value chain is something important to be protected, appreciated, and planned for at the local, regional, and national level as our communities change in response to the current situation.