SPECIAL REPORT A P G A C T I O N S A M I D C O V I D -1 9
APG OPERATIONS DURING COVID-19 Richard Matoian, President As a result of the City of Fresno’s Emergency Declaration, implementing “shelter in place” until March 31, and the similar announcement by California Governor Gavin Newsom, the APG office has temporarily closed. While the office may be physically closed, all APG employees are working directly from their residences. APG staff is committed to continue to be productive and to maintain the business needs of the organization and the pistachio industry. Feel free to contact any APG employee by phone or email. A list of emails are found on the APG website, https://americanpistachios.org/contact-us. If you leave a voicemail for any specific employee or in the APG general voice mailbox, all APG staff are alerted via email and are able to retrieve voicemails through our remote computer access system. Therefore, APG’s operations will be as normal as possible during this “shelter in place” declaration. APG’s Executive Committee met via Conference call on Wednesday, March 18 and confirmed this plan of action. They also voted to postpone the Board Retreat, which was scheduled to be held at the end of this month. APG’s LeadOn leadership program has also been suspended for this calendar year. I trust that each of you are taking care of yourselves and your loved ones, and are following various local, state and national guidelines to insure your long-term health. May this crisis pass quickly so we can fully resume our normal lives and duties.
APG PROMOTION ACTIVITIES Judy Hirigoyen, VP Global Marketing
STRONG ADVERTISING AND PR As you know, APG’s efforts are largely in export markets, and last year 72 percent of our crop was destined for overseas. While the impact here in the domestic market from the virus is relatively new, it was felt in our export markets well before. I have been in constant contact with our international representatives and public relations agencies during this time to monitor the best approach in each market during these times. The food industry is working overtime to ensure food is reaching consumers around the world. APG continues to support their efforts as we always have. Moreover, we appreciate the great efforts of those along the supply chain who are producing, processing, delivering, and stocking shelves. Your APG marketing team in Fresno and our agency personnel are very effectively working from their homes. While the events (such as nutrition conferences, sponsored sports events and journalist events) that were planned for this timeframe have been postponed to respect physical distancing, our outreach and advertising continues. Resources we had dedicated to those events have been redirected to actions that can be managed in the current environment. For example, our key experts are conducting Skype interviews on our latest research (instead of in-person journalist events), and our agencies are still in close contact with journalists as they always have been—by computer and by phone. Publications (print and online) are asking for more content, and we are delivering. Dr. Mike Roussell interviews with mindbodygreen.com on pistachios as a complete protein.
There has never been a time in our recent history when people have been more health-focused. Trips to the grocery store are fewer, and the food purchased is likely to be intentional for its nutritional value and shelf stability. We are grateful to work in an industry that produces a food that nourishes and helps meet the needs of people at this time. In addition to the known value of pistachios as a nutrient-dense, shelf stable product, U.S. pistachios are a “complete protein.” There are very few plant-based proteins that can claim they contain all nine “essential” amino acids in adequate amounts, making them “complete proteins.” This means pistachios rank with quinoa and soy for this claim, along with animal-based proteins. Our efforts to educate consumers and health professionals of this latest news will be our #1 focus in the coming months.
All of us at APG wish you good health in the coming weeks. We continue to work on your behalf to communicate the benefits of pistachios for health and happiness.
APG GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATE Rob Nash, Director, Government Relations The APG Government Relations Team continues to monitor and engage with the federal and state governments throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are some highlights of major policies that are being implemented in response to the ongoing crisis. If you have any questions or if you can provide any insight on how COVID-19 is impacting your pistachio operation, please e-mail APG Director, Government Relations Rob Nash at RNash@AmericanPistachios.org. Congress has initiated a response to the COVID-19 pandemic to address the economy and health issues of the nation. The response is being rolled out in phases, with Phase 1 and Phase 2 already signed into law by the President, and Phase 3 currently under negotiations.
Phase 1:
The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 6074) • Bill was introduced on March 4, 2020 and signed by the President March 6, 2020. • Summary: $8.3 billion emergency funding bill designed to treat and prevent spread of COVID-19. » Significant portions of funding went to the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to develop testing kits for local communities. » Funding for state and local health departments for staffing increases and additional laboratory equipment.
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» Funding to federal government to aid in international containment of COVID-19. TO READ FACT SHEET
Phase 2:
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) • Bill was introduced March 11, 2020 and signed by the President March 18, 2020. • Summary: Focuses on targeted relief for both individuals and businesses, and covers the expansion of COVID-19 testing. Some highlights include: » Two weeks of qualified sick leave wages for those employees who must self-quarantine or seek treatment due to virus; » Employer tax credits for paid sick and paid family and medical leave; » Guaranteed coverage of testing by public and private payers; and
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» Additional health provisions regarding Medicare and Medicaid. TO READ FACT SHEET
Phase 3:
Economic Stimulus – Currently being negotiated • President Trump has indicated that he would like to see a stimulus package that includes: » Relief for airlines » Small business relief » Direct payments to Americans » Payroll tax cuts
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• The Phase 3 stimulus is currently under ongoing negotiations between parties and houses in Congress. TO READ ARTICLE
CALIFORNIA STATE GOVERNMENT
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In California, Governor Newsom has issued a “Stay at Home” Executive Order as of the evening of March 19, 2020. All individuals in the State of California are ordered to stay home or at their place of residence except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of the federal critical infrastructure sectors. This order will take precedence over any local orders. For Food & Agriculture and Manufacturing specifically, please look at the below list of what is considered a critical infrastructure sector. Additionally, we’ve prepared a letter (see download link on right side column) for employers to customize and hand out to employees should they need to demonstrate to authorities that they are working in a critical CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE LETTER infrastructure sector.
Food & Agriculture • Workers supporting groceries, pharmacies and other retail that sells food and beverage products. • Restaurant carry-out and quick serve food operations - Carry-out and delivery food employees. • Food manufacturer employees and their supplier employees—to include those employed in food processing (packers, meat processing, cheese plants, milk plants, produce, etc.) facilities; livestock, poultry, seafood slaughter facilities; pet and animal feed processing facilities; human food facilities producing by-products for animal food; beverage production facilities; and the production of food packaging. • Farm workers to include those employed in animal food, feed, and ingredient production, packaging, and distribution; manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of veterinary drugs; truck delivery and transport; farm and fishery labor needed to produce our food supply domestically. • Farm workers and support service workers to include those who field crops; commodity inspection; fuel ethanol facilities; storage facilities; and other agricultural inputs.
Food & Agriculture • Employees and firms supporting food, feed, and beverage distribution, including warehouse workers, vendor-managed inventory controllers and blockchain managers. • Workers supporting the sanitation of all food manufacturing processes and operations from wholesale to retail. • Company cafeterias - in-plant cafeterias used to feed employees. • Workers in food testing labs in private industries and in institutions of higher education. • Workers essential for assistance programs and government payments. • Employees of companies engaged in the production of chemicals, medicines, vaccines, and other substances used by the food and agriculture industry, including pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, minerals, enrichments, and other agricultural production aids. • Animal agriculture workers to include those employed in veterinary health; manufacturing and distribution of animal medical materials, animal vaccines, animal drugs, feed ingredients, feed, and bedding, etc.; transportation of live animals, animal medical materials; transportation of deceased animals for disposal; raising of animals for food; animal production operations; slaughter and packing plants and associated regulatory and government workforce. • Workers who support the manufacture and distribution of forest products, including, but not limited to timber, paper, and other wood products. • Employees engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary to agricultural production and distribution.
Critical Manufacturing • Workers necessary for the manufacturing of materials and products needed for medical supply chains, transportation, energy, communications, food and agriculture, chemical manufacturing, nuclear facilities, the operation of dams, water and wastewater treatment, emergency services, and the defense industrial base.
RESOURCES Federal • • • • •
White House Food & Drug Administration (FDA) USDA OSHA guidance on preparing workplaces for COVID-19 Centers for Disease & Control (CDC): COVID-19 Information » CDC Guidance for Businesses & Employers » How to protect yourself and others
California • State COVID-19 Website • California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA)
Arizona • Governor's Office • Latest COVID-19 Actions • Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA)
New Mexico • Governor’s Office • New Mexico Department of Health COVID-19 • New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA)
AmericanPistachios
@PistachioPower
@AmericanPistachios
PistachioPower
AmericanPistachios.org 9 River Park Place East, Suite 410 Fresno, CA 93720 USA Telephone: (001) 559.475.0435 Facsimile: (001) 559.475.0624 www.AmericanPistachios.org