This week on our From the Cold Corner podcast, I interviewed Lowell Randel, VP of government and legal affairs at the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) for the very latest developments regarding COVID-19's impact on the cold food supply chain.

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.

Tyson Foods will pay approximately $60 million in “thank you” bonuses to 116,000 frontline workers and Tyson truckers in the U.S. who support the company’s operations every day to provide food during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible team members will receive a $500 bonus, payable during the first week of July. The bonuses are in addition to other company-announced efforts to support workers, plant communities and livestock producers during the global pandemic.

US Foods has donated $2.5 million dollars in food and supplies over the last four weeks to fight hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic. The donations equate to more than 150 semi-truck loads of product. US Foods worked with its longtime partner Feeding America and other local charitable organizations across the country to distribute food such as meat, dairy, and produce and other non-food supplies.

Many of our clients are in the critical fields of pharma, hygiene, food, beverage, manufacturing, chemicals, and more. We are designated as a critical co-packers, materials and machinery suppliers and as such our business remains open to provide customer service and parts. We are also have the ability to help with materials and machinery needs for those food, beverage, and pharma companies experiencing a surge in demand.

Sanderson Farms announced it has implemented a temporary weekly attendance bonus for the Company’s employees in an amount equivalent to $1.00 an hour for each hour worked. The bonus payment commenced Monday, March 30, 2020, and will end Friday, June 26, 2020. Employees must have perfect attendance during the week in order to earn the bonus. The attendance bonus is applicable to all hourly positions, including new hires.

In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, FiveStar Gourmet Foods is taking action by donating 15,000 pre-packaged complete meal salads under the Simply Fresh brand to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, who will be distributing the salads to the local communities that they serve.

We’re continuing to work on the simultaneous priorities to support you in keeping the fresh produce supply chain moving, and driving financial relief for those most affected by this crisis.

Mountaire Farms is donating more than 44,000 pounds of chicken to employees at Delaware's Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford, and Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury this week. Employees will each get a 10-pound bag of fresh chicken to take home to their families.

New data from research firm IRI (Information Resources Inc.) and BCG (Boston Consulting Group) shows frozen and refrigerated food sales spiking 78.8% and 57.8%, respectively, compared to a year ago, and attributed to COVID-19-related stockpiling by consumers beginning on March 1. The numbers are through the week ending March 15.