The blow that the coronavirus has dealt to the restaurant industry has rippling economic impacts: Small farmers can’t sell as much produce to eateries and many out-of-work service-industry employees are now food insecure.
A new effort in Georgia looks to address both of those scenarios by providing farm-fresh food to former restaurant workers.
Food Fight GA is a new collaboration between Georgia Organics, a collective of independent restaurants and the Jamestown Charitable Foundation — the charitable arm of the real estate company that owns Ponce City Market.
"The mission of Food Fight GA is to serve Atlanta's restaurant family by providing weekly farm-fresh produce boxes to former staff while preserving and stabilizing Georgia's local food system," according to the initiative's website.
>> RELATED: Atlanta area farmers markets fight to stay open amid a COVID-19 crisis
The produce boxes are currently available for current and former staff members at Root Baking Co., Staplehouse, Star Provisions, Bacchanalia, Floataway Cafe, Miller Union, The Deer and the Dove, and Boccalupo.
"During the program's pilot in the last two weeks, Food Fight GA put nearly $10,000 back into the hands of farm partners and has provided approximately 200 produce boxes to Atlanta restaurant workers each week," Alice Rolls, executive director of Georgia Organics, told Atlanta Intown.
About the Author
