The COVID 19 pandemic hit San Diego County’s food systems hard. Disruptions to the regional food distribution left farm fields and warehouses filled with fruits, vegetables, even wine that normally goes to area restaurants, farmer’s markets, hotels, school systems, etc. While farmers faced great uncertainty, so did the public. Where would our food come from? And as hourly workers lost jobs by the score, how could they afford to feed their families? In short time, innovative farmers, residents, hunger relief agencies, and food activists sprang into action. Farmers found ways to sell their products directly to the public. People who had never before put a trowel into the soil now tried their hands at growing a garden. Hunger relief agencies beefed up their distributions while a local non-profit found a way to help those in need learn to grow their own fruits and vegetables. In this episode, we explore the ups and downs of the pandemic. We revisit farmers featured in past episodes of A Growing Passion and meet some new ones to see how they shifted their business models to survive and in some cases thrive during the pandemic. And we see how people without access to seeds or seedlings are now growing their own, thanks to the innovative efforts of a pair of local food activists.
Carlsbad Strawberry Company
Healthy Day Partners – Grab & Grow Gardens
San Diego Seed Company
Vesper Vineyards
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