The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges across the United States. Access to healthy, nutritious food options are important to health and well-being. With more children not attending childcare, school, and college in-person (a source of nutritious meals for many students) and with changes in employment status during the COVID-19 pandemic, many households may struggle with food security. To help address these challenges, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), has provided a number of resources including the Food and COVID-19 resource to support consumers and considerations for restaurants and bars, and grocery and food retail workers.

In September, the CDC released three new documents to address additional settings: outdoor farmers markets, food pantries and food distribution sites, and outdoor learning gardens. These considerations are meant to supplement—not replace—any state, local, territorial or tribal health and safety laws, rules and regulations with which organizations must comply.

Use these documents as tools to help resume and continue operations in ways that reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread while addressing community food access:

=        Considerations for Outdoor Farmers Markets 

=        Considerations for Food Pantries and Food Distribution Sites

 Considerations for Outdoor Learning and Community Gardens