COVID-19 Updates

VACCINE

  • Letter to DSHS_vaccine access.210111
  • Save the Date: Jan 21, 2021 -CDC will have a webinar will provide updates on COVID-19 vaccine implementation for food and agriculture workers, vaccine safety and confidence, and recommendations for vaccine prioritization.
  • Pfizer Vaccine Fact Sheet from FDA
  • Information on Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
  • Information on Moderna vaccine
  • Moderna Vaccine Fact Sheet from FDA
  • Agricultural Workers have been recommended to be in the “1b” category to receive the vaccine in the next 5wks to 15wks. This means that after Healthcare (nurses and doctors), First Responders (police, ambulance, fire fighters), and Vulnerable Populations (ex: elderly and long-term healthcare patients), the Food and Agriculture industries have been suggested to receive access to the vaccine as a priority group within the Frontline Essential Workforce.CDC released their guidance here

USDA DIRECT GROWER PAYMENTS // CFAP

  • Oct 5, 2020: USDA announces CFAP #2, Direct Grower Payments

  • USDA announced they would open applications for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program #2 (CFAP #2) which provides direct payments to growers. This program is VERY different from the previous program and nearly all growers should be eligible, including those who may have received payments from the first CFAP program.

    Specialty Crops (aka fruits and vegetables) are eligible under Category 3. Under this category, a producer who grew eligible commodities during the calendar year of 2020 qualify for a direct payment. The payment will depend on your farm’s 2019 Gross Farm Sales Values and is based on that final figure using a scaled payment system. Payments will equate to approximately 9-10% of the 2019 sales figure.

    The purpose of this program is to not only cover sales losses or destroyed crops, but to also recognize the many financial burdens growers coped with over the course of the pandemic. This system acknowledges the losses associated with costs such as: additional safety measures, changes in marketing channels, lost distribution channels, providing PPE, worker testing and safety education, internal policy changes, and so forth.

    Sign-ups run from September 21, 2020 through December 11, 2020. The program will continue to be administered by USDA FSA offices, and you are encouraged to sign-up either online or with your local office. This program (CFAP #2) is considered DIFFERENT from the first CFAP program so:

    If you received a payment from the first CFAP program, it doesn’t matter. You are still eligible for this new CFAP program.

    Because it is a new program, you must complete a new application. Does not matter if you filled an application for the first program – this program has a different application process.

    Your company does not need to demonstrate sales losses. However, if audited your company may be asked to provide evidence of the 2019 sales data and 2020 plantings of eligible crops

    Many of the same restrictions (ex: AGI, $250k per producer, 3 producers per company max and other limitations) remain in place.

    For more information or to apply, please visit www.farmers.gov/cfap. To see the official USDA Press Release, visit here.

  • May 22, 2020:

USDA RELIEF PROGRAMS

EMPLOYEE/PERSONNEL PROCEDURES

Also, if you have not yet, please consider hosting an in-house training on hygiene and sanitation for ALL employees (office, warehouse, field, etc). The risk for exposure and additional vectors continues to grow as the positive finds for COVID-19 increase across the country. It is better to error on the side of caution and host these trainings weekly as information becomes available.

INCREASING SANITATION MEASURES

  • Nov 30, 2020: CFSAN Constituent Updates
  • Nov 30, 2020: FSMA Increased Sanitation Measures
  • Nov 30, 2020: Food Industry Resources
  • Nov 30, 2020: Food Safety and COVID
  • Sep 22, 2020: Challenges in Citrus Packing Houses
  • Apr 3, 2020: National Milk Producers Federation put out a COVID-19 PREVENTION & MANAGEMENT MANUAL This is a very good manual and is a great guide for those in any aspect of agriculture. We strongly recommend you review and consider where this information may make sense in your operation.
  • New evidence suggests in certain environments, the virus can persist for several weeks. Please be sure to visit, update and validate your sanitation practices for all operations. Also, consider hosting a weekly hygiene education course for both field and facility operations to educate workers on risks, best practices and reminders for a safe and sanitary workplace.
  • Now is the time to review and validate your company practices. Is sanitation happening as/when/where it should? Are the chemicals being used enough to address current risks? Is cleaning happening frequently enough?
  • CDC: Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations
  • EPA: Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19, PDF
  • World Health Org: Homemade Hand Sanitizer
  • SUGGESTION – Be sure to check in with your chemical and cleaning materials providers. Many are starting to report outages. Touch base frequently with providers to ensure stocks, or to adjust as necessary before encountering a situation with no cleaning products.

SMALL BUSINESS LOANS & GRANTS

  • Apr 16: Governor Abbott, Goldman Sachs, LiftFund Announce $50 Million in Loans For Texas Small Businesses
  • Apr 16: USDA: FSA notice for AGI Processing due to COVID-19
  • Apr 3:The Small Business Administration (SBA) opens application period for Paycheck Protection Program for business under 500 employees. At this time, agriculture-only entities are not permitted to apply for EIDL loans. We are working with congressional reps and fellow associations to address this. There is a variety of programs, depending on your need and United Fresh Produce Association has done a great job sorting that information in to the below:

FRESH PRODUCE IS NOT A PATHWAY

  • April 24, 2020: FDA: Updated Guidance on Food Safety
  • April 23, 2020: Is Fresh Produce Safe to Eat? US News
  • April 16: FDA: Tips for Grocery Store Shopping
  • April 15: FRESH FRUIT PORTAL: WHO & EC stress food “highly unlikely” to spread COVID-19
  • FDA released this very detailed Q&A on Food Safety during Coronavirus, including what to do if an employee in the packing facility tests positive
  • USDA: “We are not aware of any reports at this time of human illnesses that suggest COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging.”
  • USDA on Imported foods: “Currently, there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with imported goods and there are no reported cases of COVID-19 in the United States associated with imported goods.”
  • There is a lot of information from a wide variety of sources for more on this topic:
  • CDC, FDA, United Fresh, and FMI (which has done a great job collecting resources for the entire food supply chain).
  • The important thing here is consumers are worried for their safety and the safety of their families. There is a lot of misinformation in the world around COVID-19, so if you’re considering a statement, please be sure to cite reliable &/or scientific information if you do choose to make such references. (Wikipedia or media/news articles are NOT suggested sources in these instances). Following government guidance at a time like this provides a good basis.

NEED PPE? (Masks, Gloves, Handsanitzer)

PPE (personal protection equipment)
Texas companies making handsanitzer:

MORE PPE From:

C&V Supply Inc | JUAN J. O’FARRILL | Phone:956.584.2000

Surgical Masks
Surgical Masks
Face Masks KN95
Face Masks KN95
Gloves
Toilet Paper
Gallon Hand Sanitizer
1 liter container with pump:

H2A/VISA PROCESSING ISSUE

  • May 6, 2020: NCAE & C-LAKE: USCIS rules & info on transferring H2A workers 
  • Apr 20, 2020: H-2A Temporary RULE CHANGES

    • DHS posted final guidance to the federal register at the end of last week regarding temporary changes in the H-2A program. The full posting is attached. Highlights in the changes are:

      • H-2A petitioner (ie. grower) with a valid temporary labor certification can begin employing certain foreign workers currently in H-2A status in the U.S. once United States Citizenship and Immigration Services receives the petition. 

      • H-2A workers looking to change employers must be in the US already. The net result is more immediate access to a pool of H-2A farm labor.

      • H-2A workers are temporarily allowed to stay in the United States beyond the three-year maximum time limit.

  • NCAE: Making H2A contract changes due to COVID-19 impacting your business
  • March 26, 2020: The Department of State and Department of Homeland Security made the announcement they would be temporarily waiving the requirement for in-person interviews for both new & returning H2A applications at US Consulate offices. This is very big as it will streamline the process for those H2A applications still pending in foreign countries. More info here.
  • March 26, 2020: UPDATE: US Consulates in Mexico to begin processing ALL H2A applications – returning and new applicants
  • Beginning March 18th, the US Consulates & Embassies in Mexico suspending visa processing services – including applications for H2A visas.
  • TIPA has been working alongside a national partnership of agriculture companies as we align with state agriculture departments, Farm Bureaus, Congressional offices, and the USDA to pressure the State Department to create a contingency plan to continue processing H2A visas as quickly as possible.
  • As of now, the offices in Mexico will issue interview waivers to returning H2A applicants who successfully completed an H2A contract in the last 12 months. A solution is still needed to new H2A applicants. USDA and Secretary Perdue have committed to keeping this a top priority until a solution is presented.

AGRICULTURE = ESSENTIAL WORK

  • Apr 3, 2020: If workers would be more comfortable with an Essential Worker Travel Notice in Spanish, TDA has translated those documents here.
  • TDA: Essential Worker Notice from Texas Department of Agriculture
  • Download and edit this letter so that your company can provide to employees citing the FEDERAL government’s definition of Essential Employees.
    • If you decide to use this letter, please place it on your company letterhead and complete the sections in RED at the bottom. Each employee will need a copy and must carry it with them at all times when traveling for work in those regions which have Shelter In Place or similar restrictive travel limits.

PACA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

  • USDA: PACA questions during COVID-19.
    • Please note, TIPA along with many other industry partners are still working with USDA to help find temporary fixes within PACA for the industry during these unprecedented times.

US-MX BORDER STILL OPEN

HOURS OF SERVICE SUSPENSION

STOC INSPECTIONS CONTINUING W/O DELAY

  • Our STOC Compliance Agents are still working, as are USDA/TCIP inspectors. As part of the Critical Infrastructure, they are continuing regular inspections and visits (with more attention to their personal sanitation and exposure safety as well).

TEXAS CORONAVIRUS NEWS