In the news

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Lakeside Refrigerated Services, from Swedesboro, N.J. recalled ~42,922 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, today. 1-lb. vacuum packages containing “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF”; 1-lb. vacuum packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES”; 3-lb. vacuum packages containing three 1 lb. pieces of “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN / 7% FAT”; 1-lb. tray packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85% LEAN / 15% FAT”; 4-lb. tray packages containing 10 ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 80% LEAN / 20% FAT”; 1-lb. vacuum packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85% LEAN / 15% FAT”; 1-lb. vacuum packages containing “VALUE PACK FRESH GROUND BEEF 76% LEAN / 24% FAT”. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide. The problem was discovered during routine FSIS testing. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2020/recall-012-2020-release

The Packer reported that asparagus harvesting in Ontario, Canada was halted after 164 migrant workers at a farm tested positive for COVID-19. The workers are self-isolating at hotels and on-farm bunkhouses. Four of the workers remained hospitalized, two of whom were in intensive care. Farm leaders worked with the local health department to contain the spread of the virus. The farmworkers were employed by Scotlynn Group in Vittoria, Ontario.  The lack of skilled workers to harvest the crop caused a loss of 8-10% of the province’s more than 3,700 acres of asparagus. The Canadian federal government requires agricultural workers arriving from out of the country to complete 14 days of self-isolation, according to the health unit and Solymar. Some complete their self-isolation period at on-farm housing. Most growers did not have enough help for harvesting this season. However, there is no shortage of asparagus in stores. @ https://www.thepacker.com/article/covid-19-outbreak-affects-ontario-asparagus-harvest

According to the USDA, beef facilities are operating at 98% capacity, pork facilities are operating at 95%, and poultry facilities are operating at 98% of their capacity compared to the same time last year.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue applauded the data, attributing the operations to the safe reopening of the facilities, and thanked industry and its workers. The meatpacking closure caused shortages at grocery stores and a backlog of animals ready to slaughter, creating depressed prices for farmers, yet higher prices for consumers. @ https://salinapost.com/posts/5ee11120ebfb13423b27701d