Small Restaurants in the Age of Covid-19

The Hood River Valley is an old logging community that now relies on the orchards and recreational tourism industries to stay afloat.

I live in a small tourist town that relies heavily on the popular summer months. As a stereotypical outdoorsy PNW town, the main attractions are hiking/biking trails, microbreweries, and wineries. With the COVID-19 pandemic, all of these things have been closed indefinitely and our community is left to wonder what is going to happen.

An op-ed in the New York Times written by New York City Restaurant owners questions the future of restaurants as we know them. “Independent restaurants employ more than 10 million people. And our fear is that these jobs may well disappear for good.” Restaurants have always been a risky business with large upfront investments, lots of employees to pay, slow returns, and seasonality. This is especially true in my hometown where the population doubles in the summer and most restaurants barely scrape by the winter months.

The popular farm to table movement is better for the environment, encouraging small scale organic farms and local supply chains. But in the age of Coronavirus, these operations are being hit the hardest. American food culture correspondent for the Times, Kim Severson, comments on this in her latest article. The $12 billion dollar industry is facing heavy losses as “these small farmers, like many others across the country who spent decades building a local, sustainable agricultural system, are staring at their fields and wondering what to do now that the table has been kicked out from under the modern farm-to-table movement.”

Farmers and restaurants alike have been looking to do what they can to minimize loses by sending food to farmer’s markets, or encouraging customers to do take-out or sign up for food delivery boxes. Everyone is scrambling to change their business model, but the question that remains is how long this will last, and will anyone be left to return to normal?

6 thoughts on “Small Restaurants in the Age of Covid-19

  1. Když jsem začal hledat nový způsob, jak si užít online kasina, našel jsem tuto aplikaci. Po stažení 22bet cаsіno cz jsem byl překvapen rychlostí, jakou jsem mohl začít hrát. Nabídka her je opravdu široká a zábava nebere konce. Aplikace je jednoduchá a intuitivní, ideální pro hráče, kteří chtějí rychlý a plynulý zážitek.

  2. The fact that many local restaurants and farms are facing significant challenges makes me worried for the future of our community. Hopefully we can find creative solutions to support these businesses and protect the diversity and vitality of our town in the months ahead! basket random

  3. Biodegradable wipes for camping are specially designed for outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize eco-friendliness while on the go. Made from natural, plant-based fibers, these microfiber lens wipes are safe for the environment as they break down quickly after disposal, reducing waste and minimizing harm to natural ecosystems.

  4. Yellow Pages UK is an indispensable tool for navigating the vast landscape of businesses and services across the United Kingdom. With its comprehensive directory and user-friendly interface, Yellow Pages UK makes it easy for consumers to find everything from local restaurants and plumbers to electricians and hair salons.

  5. orologiera ininterrotta sin dalla sua fondazione. Progetta e produce orologi e movimenti, inclusi alcuni degli orologi meccanici più complicati. L’azienda gestisce oltre 400 punti vendita al dettaglio a livello globale e oltre una dozzina di centri di distribuzione in Asia, Europa, Nord America e Oceania. Nel 2001 ha aperto il Museo Patek Philippe a Ginevra.https://www.orologilusso.eu/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *