FOOD HEROES: THE UNDERRATED HEROES OF THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) ERA

Throughout this pandemic, essential workers such as the health care workers and first responders have been receiving high accolades for their work to their various communities and society. However, we rarely hear anything about those who make sure we all have foods on our tables. That is, our food heroes. Essential workers as defined by the Canadian Government site, are those who are considered critical to preserving life, health and basic societal functioning [1]. Examples of essential workers are health care workers, first responders, infrastructure workers, hydro and natural gas [1]. Also, people who supply food and medicines to society are also considered essential workers [1].

Food and nutrition strategies are one of those components that seems to be ignored most during emergency situations. We all know food is life, medicine, best friends, and comforter. Without food, we cannot live, work, nor function. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO), food heroes are those who produced, planted, harvested, fished or transported our food [2]. As a matter of fact, to Smart Development Works Organization (SNV), food heroes are everywhere [3]. Anyone who cooks, serves, grows food at home and adamant about not wasting food, is also considered a food hero [3].

To me, our food heroes do not get enough recognition they deserve. No matter the circumstances, they continue to provide food to their communities. Which in turn helps to grow, nourish and sustain our world [2]. We all owe tremendous gratitude to our food heroes since they also put their lives at risk to make sure the whole world is still able to get food to feed their families.

References

1. Canada, P. (2020). Preventing COVID-19 in the workplace: Employers, employees and essential service workers - Canada.ca. Retrieved 10 November 2020, from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/preventing-covid-19-workplace-employers-employees-essential-service-workers.html

2. Food Heroes. (2020). Retrieved 10 November 2020, from http://www.fao.org/world-food-day/food-heroes/en/

3. Verschuur, C. (2020). World Food Day 2020: Feeding the world one food hero at a time. Retrieved 10 November 2020, from https://snv.org/update/world-food-day-2020-feeding-world-one-food-hero-time