Covid-19 coverage

MAPPING COVID-19 in the food system

From April 2020 to August 2021, I counted and mapped outbreaks of Covid-19 among workers at meatpacking plants, food processing plants, and on farms and ranches. My maps and dataset became leading resources on how the coronavirus pandemic affected the nation's food system workers. The project is no longer being updated, but full details on the map and daily updates are still available on the FERN website. You can see all of my charts and maps on the spread of Covid-19 on my Tableau profile.

more covid-19 coverage

FERN
A year later, food workers still experience waves of Covid-19, April 6th, 2021 (feature)
Which states are vaccinating food system workers? March 25th, 2021 (graphic)
At California pork plant, confusion and safety violations as Covid-19 spread, March 8th, 2021
Documents show scope of Covid-19 in North Carolina meat industry, December 11th, 2020
Food system workers may get early access to a Covid-19 vaccine, but how should states prepare?
November 10th, 2020
Could the food system face a new Covid-19 wave? October 21st, 2020
Covid-19 shows no sign of slowing among food-system workers, June 22nd, 2020 (graphic)
Charting the spread of Covid-19 in the food system, May 19th, 2020 (graphic)

FERN's Ag Insider
DOJ: Tyson was not directed by federal government to continue pandemic production, April 29, 2021
Food workers face obstacles getting Covid-19 vaccinations, January 28th, 2021
First 100 days: Advocates say Biden should act quickly to boost workplace safety, January 20th, 2021
Food workers face obstacles getting Covid-19 vaccinations, January 28th, 2021
States are rolling back recent transparency measures in how they report meatpacking plant outbreaks,
September 23rd, 2020
At poultry plants allowed to run faster processing lines, a greater risk of Covid-19, September 10th, 2020
Few states release data about Covid-19 in the food system, August 17th, 2020 (graphic)
Covid-19 cases appear to be slowing at meat plants. But companies aren’t releasing test results. July 27th, 2020 
Ranchers, labor union call for stronger Covid-19 protections for meatpacking workers, June 8th, 2020
Fruit-packing workers strike, and Washington State strengthens Covid-19 protections, June 2nd, 2020
Farmers markets fought to stay open during the pandemic. Now many can’t make ends meet. May 31st, 2020
As more meatpacking workers fall ill from Covid-19, meat companies decline to disclose data, May 14th, 2020
Fearing the spread of Covid-19, workers strike at three fruit facilities in Washington State, May 13th, 2020
Trump’s executive order seeks controversial overhaul of seafood industry, May 8th, 2020
As craft beer struggles amid pandemic, so do barley farmers and malthouses, May 1st, 2020
Advocates slam Trump order to keep meatpacking plants open, April 28th, 2020
Chicken company to cull birds as processing capacity plummets, April 12th, 2020
Most SNAP recipients can’t buy groceries online. Now, some states push for change. April 6th, 2020
As institutions close, some farmers are left without a market, March 29th, 2020
Empty shelves will soon be ‘a thing of the past,’ says grocery supply expert, March 17th, 2020
As coronavirus spreads, farmers fear market closures and lost income, March 15th, 2020
Labor shortages, SNAP cuts, trade deals: How could coronavirus affect our food supply chain? March 11th, 2020

​FERN and the Daily Yonder
When Covid-19 hits a rural meatpacking plant, county infection rates soar to five times the average,
May 28th, 2020 (graphic)

interviews about covid-19  and the food system

Virus on the Poultry Line, Al Jazeera, October 21st, 2020
Future Perfect, Vox, September 30th, 2020
Citizen Chef with Tom Colicchio, July 30th, 2020 
Market to Market, Iowa PBS, July 14th, 2020
Weekend Roundup, CBS News, July 2nd, 2020
UpFront, KPFA, May 27th, 2020
Crosscut Talks, Crosscut, May 15th, 2020
The State of Things, WUNC, May 1st 2020
UNews, Univision, April 30th, 2020
What Doesn't Kill You, Heritage Radio Network, April 8th, June 3rd, July 16th, August 17th

featured work

reporting (selected)

FERN
USDA wants to make farms climate-friendly. Will it work? July 15, 2021 (feature)
At the nation’s largest student farm organization, a reckoning on race, September 8th, 2020 (feature)
Young farmers face heightened risks from climate change, January 21st, 2020
In Minnesota, study finds drinking water tainted with nitrates, January 14th, 2020
Lawsuit alleges turkey companies conspired to keep prices high, December 19th, 2019
A battle brews in rural Wisconsin over factory farms, November 19th, 2019
Multiple lawsuits allege price-fixing by big beef companies, October 28th, 2019
Court documents show beef checkoff sends millions to cattle lobby, October 10th, 2019
A new coalition says farmers and ranchers want the Green New Deal, September 18th, 2019
With Costco chicken plant set to open, Nebraskans want more oversight of poultry farms, July 31st, 2019
Justice Dept. intervenes in major poultry price-fixing case, June 24th, 2019
In Missouri, lawmakers are poised to eliminate local regulation of CAFOs, May 7th, 2019
The farm industry is pushing for tighter right-to-farm laws across the country.
What does that mean for farm neighbors? April 11th, 2019
At Iowa forum, Democratic presidential candidates vow to take on Big Ag, March 1st, 2019
Q&A with Monica White: Black farmers’ role in the struggle for civil rights, February 18th, 2019
Madison looks at former meat factory for wholesale food market, January 29, 2019
The air they breathe, December 21, 2018
Can Jess King flip the farmers of Lancaster County? October 23rd, 2018
Find my full archive at FERN here. 

The Washington Post
Some food stamp recipients may soon lose access to farmers market benefits, July 9th 2018

The Guardian
Is the U.S. chicken industry cheating its farmers?, August 2nd, 2019 (feature)

The American Prospect
USDA Wants to Make Farms Climate-Friendly. Will It Work? July 15th, 2021 (feature)

NPR
The Battle Over Fish Farming In The Open Ocean Heats Up, As EPA Permit Looms, September 18th, 2019
Big Ag Is Pushing Laws To Restrict Neighbors' Ability To Sue Farms, April 12th, 2019
Big Food Versus Big Chicken: Lawsuits Allege Processors Conspired To Fix Bird Prices, February 6th, 2018

Mother Jones
A Year Later, It’s Still Impossible to Tell How Many Food Workers Are Contracting COVID-19, April 12th, 2021
A COVID Outbreak at a California Meatpacking Plant Started a Year Ago—and Never Went Away, March 16th 2021
After Enduring “Complete Hell” During the Pandemic, Food Workers Struggle to Get Vaccinated, January 30th, 2021
At the Nation’s Largest Student Farm Organization, a Reckoning on Race, September 11th, 2021
Climate Change Is Making It Much Harder to Be a Young Farmer, January 30th, 2020
Farmers and Ranchers Know What Climate Change Feels Like. They Just Wrote
Congress Demanding Action, September 21st, 2019
Factory Farms No Longer Have to Report Their Air Emissions.
That’s Dangerous for Their Neighbors, December 21st, 2018
A Democrat Hopes to Tip the Vote in Pennsylvania’s Cow Country, October 24th, 2018
Farmers Are Struggling to Make Ends Meet. This Controversial Policy Could Help, May 12th, 2018
“Finally, Somebody Heard What the People Were Saying Was Happening to Them," May 1st, 2018
Large-Scale Animal Agriculture Is Threatening Rural Communities. Congress Is About to Make it Worse, March 22nd, 2018
The Price-Fixing Scandal Rocking Big Chicken, February 10th, 2018

The Nation
The Breathtaking Lack of Oversight for Air Emissions From Animal Farms, December 20th, 2019
Psst! The Farm Bill Includes a Rare Provision That Could Help Black Farmers, July 25th 2018
Stolen Birthright, June 26th 2017 magazine (feature)

The Oregonian
Lost Valley debacle leads to effort to limit mega-dairies in Oregon, April 5th, 2019

The Weather Channel
Why Young Farmers Face Heightened Risks from Climate Change, January 22nd, 2020

Time
Are outbreaks of foodborne illness getting worse? February 28th, 2020

The Washington Monthly
How Rural America Got Milked, Jan/Feb/March 2018 magazine (feature)
Made From Concentrate, September/October 2016 magazine (book review)
Time to Put Big Soda on a Diet, January/February 2016 magazine (book review)
The Whiskey Ain't Workin' Anymore, September/October 2015 magazine (book review)

Slate
​Got Organic?, May 14th 2015​

Civil Eats
Trump's EPA Chief is Reshaping Food and Farming: What You Need to Know, February 5th 2018
A Radical Farm Bill is Born, November 16th 2017
The State of Trump's USDA: What You Need to Know, October 28th 2017
Is a More Equitable, Fairer Farm Bill Possible?, May 15th 2017
The Future of the Farm Bill, For Now, February 8th 2017
Find my full archive at Civil Eats here.
​

RADIO/PODCAST appearances

Who Is Big Meat? Now This News, August 25, 2020
Heritage Radio Network, "What Doesn't Kill You" 
April 8th, 2020; December 2nd, 2019; September 16th, 2019; April 8th, 2019
KCRW's Good Food,
​January 11th, 2019; May 26th 2018; January 13th 2018; August 19th 2017
Building Power, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, February 7th, 2019
The Bread Line, September 20th, 2018
The Show, KJZZ, May 16th 2018
Ring of Fire Radio, January 22nd 2018
​The Scholar's Circle, July 22nd 2017
America's Work Force Radio, July 20th 2017

Misc. writing

Chastity Belt @ Songbyrd Music House, Washington City Paper, June 24th 2017
DCist Preview: St. Paul and the Broken Bones @ 9:30 Club, DCist, December 30th, 2015
Interview with Marion Nestle for her book Soda Politics: Taking on Big Soda (And Winning), October 22nd 2015​

​​My work has also been published in Serious Eats, Food Politic, and Seedstock.