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 and laid the groundwork for a Congressional investigation into the meat industry's handling of the pandemic.
The project is no longer being updated, but full details on the map and daily updates are still available on the FERN website.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.
The project is no longer being updated, but full details on the map and daily updates are still available on the FERN website.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)
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
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
