Industry ponders what it needs from lawmakers for full recovery

(Photo courtesy By Madun_Digital; Source pixabay)

In the wake of the lingering crisis that is the COVID-19 pandemic, what do foodservice distributors and operators need from industry advocates and policymakers?

In a May survey, The Packer asked foodservice leaders, “To help the foodservice sector fully recover, United/PMA and other industry organizations should lobby Washington for...”

The options (more than one answer was allowed) were:

  • Renewal of the Farmers to Families Food Box program;
  • Assistance to wholesaler/distributors for unpaid bills;
  • Direct consumer assistance/stimulus;
  • Incentives for capital investments; and 
  • Other.

As it turned out, all of the answers to the questions received support, with the highest support for “Renewal of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program” and “Assistance to wholesalers and distributors for unpaid bills,” followed by “Incentives for capital investments” and finally, “Direct consumer assistance/stimulus.”
Three out of 10 polled indicated “other,” signaling that none of the options appealed to them.

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