Perdue: Pandemic Forced Change In Supply Chain

"Our food supply chain is very integrated, it’s very sophisticated, and even synchronized in a way" Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue recently said. "And that gives American consumers the lowest cost food anywhere in the developed world."

However, Perdue said this week that efficiency produces separate supply chain systems: one for grocery stores and one for restaurants. Leading to recent adjustment of the total chain to address supply concerns related to COVID-19.

"When the restaurants shut down it caused really a backup in that supply chain and a misalignment of where of the product was and where it needed to go and it’s taken us a few days and weeks in order to help for realignment."

Perdue added that programs like the Family to Farmer Food Box Program, combined with packers and processors returning online in recent days after adjusting their systems to address the balance between safety and production, have been integral in realigning the food supply chain and assuring adequate supplies.

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