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Beginning Friday, March 27, ABB’s Robotics and Discrete Automation business will make key software services available free of charge to its customers until Dec. 31, 2020. Among the services included are condition monitoring and diagnostics, asset management software and remote troubleshooting and monitoring of production lines for the delivery of important supplies.

Aid to schools and food banks to get fresh produce. Flexibility on temporary farm workers from Mexico. Help matching independent grocers with suppliers. These are a few of the priorities of the United Fresh Produce Association as it tries to help members meet demand for fruits and vegetables during the crisis.

As food and beverage processors deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they face dual challenges when it comes to training: keeping the current workforce safe and training new employees they’re hiring to meet a sustained, nationwide surge in demand.

Seemingly overnight, the world has been consumed by the coronavirus (COVID-19). Since showing up on the world stage in November 2019 within the Wuhan area of China, the virus has quickly morphed into a global health threat, while disrupting sensitive supply channels.

As hand sanitizer continues to be in short supply during the coronavirus pandemic, a number of distillers are working to fill the gaps.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic offers no threat to the safety of ingredients or finished food and beverage products, as it is a fragile virus that can’t stand up to cooking temperatures or the industry’s already rigid cleaning and sanitation requirements. But the pandemic does present challenges for worker safety, and processors must be proactive in addressing those challenges in an effective way.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a historic impact on business across multiple industries in a very short time, including the cold food and beverage supply chain. We spoke with Lowell Randel, VP, government and legal affairs at the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) for a snapshot of how the cold chain is adjusting to the new norm, and also to dispel certain myths surrounding the country’s food supply and ability to replenish inventory.

While the coronavirus infection continues to spread exponentially, food companies should perform due diligence with suppliers, even though the risk of virus transmission in the supply chain is low.