The impacts of COVID-19 on the fresh produce industry are fast-moving. Unfortunately, this virus is spreading quickly around the entire globe. A regional issue has become a global one quite quickly, and most countries across the globe are responding with closed borders, complete lockdowns, and transportation limitations. With so much uncertainty at the pinnacle of this pandemic, we are bound to see impacts on our food system, and both supply and demand of fresh produce.

The food supply chain is an incredibly connected web of agricultural inputs, fruit packers and processors, transportation, shipping, and more. Professionals in the fresh produce industry, including Vanguard’s team, are working around the clock to combat challenges of border closures, quarantines, and supply chain and/or trade disruptions to limit the impact on people’s and our customers’ access to diverse sources of quality assured fresh fruits and vegetables. Here is a breakdown on the impacts that COVID-19 could have or are having, and factors that we are constantly monitoring: