[Ruminations - Vol. 17] How COVID is disrupting supply chains

You’ve probably heard that COVID-19 has put supply chains through a serious stress test lately, especially for food. Meat shortages, dairy being dumped, animals being euthanized, outbreaks at meatpacking plants… all while shelves are going empty and grocery chains are limiting meat purchases.

These are all unfortunate occurrences, and all symptoms of large, centralized supply chains that rely on cheap labor, high volumes, little competition, resource extraction, and massive amounts of highly specialized infrastructure to stay afloat.

But that’s not the end of the story. While the old guard has been showing their brittleness, the local decentralized systems have, in many cases, been thriving. With fewer moving pieces and an ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions, decentralized, modular supply chains (or as we like to refer to them, “supply webs”) have been more resilient against shocks to the system whether they be drought, recession, or pandemic.

The time is now to support these regionally-appropriate, value-adding entities. They tend to be family-owned and work directly with their suppliers, local farmers. They maintain the craft or artistry of their trade, paying close attention to detail. And they employ local workers long-term, support their broader community in innumerable ways.

When the public leads by example, demonstrating the values they want to see in society expressed through their actions and purchases, the markets listen. Companies of all sizes, from small mom-and-pop shops to large multi-national brands, are now exploring new models, collaborating with one another, and investing in real change.

Below are the forward-thinking brands that have partnered with Savory's Land to Market program to overhaul their traditional sourcing models and prioritize regenerative outcomes:

We ask you, at this critical time in history, to continue to patronize your local farmers. Buy direct when possible, regional when you can’t. Purchase clothing that will last and food that will nourish. By purchasing with intention, you send the market signals that land, animals, and people are not commodities to be extracted from, but rather living beings to be cared for and supported.

Don’t stand by idly and blindly “consume.” Together, we can bring the change our world so desperately needs.