In the earliest days of the pandemic, as global supply chains faltered, Americans found ways to source fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy from local producers. Farmers' markets were swarmed, families flocked to u-pick operations and community supported agriculture operations (CSAs) saw a spike in demand for the first time in years.
People also rediscovered the local fishers hiding in plain sight, giving local seafood operations a "pandemic bump." "For about six months it was completely off the charts," says University of Maine marine policy professor Joshua Stoll. He's also the co-founder of the Local Catch Network, which offers "resources and services to help foster and catalyze innovative [seafood] business models," he says, to its 2,000 or so members. (It also offers a local seafood finder.)
