For the first time in 20 years, the top three on the list of industries viewed most positively by Americans are 1.) farming and agriculture, 2.) the grocery industry, 3.) restaurants. Betsy Huber, president of the National Grange, says this is very encouraging news.

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“I think it’s very positive and I think it’s related to the pandemic, that in the beginning when people went to their grocery stores and found empty shelves. That was a wake-up call to how essential farmers and grocery store workers really are.”

Huber added Ag’s image began to change at the beginning of the pandemic.

“The whole supply chain disruption back then was a real wake-up call, I think, to the general consumer. I’m not sure they really understand that it was just the transportation, the supply chain that we really do have plentiful food. Hopefully they got that message.”

Huber said the survey shows why now is the perfect time for farmers to tell their stories.

“There’s been an effort for the last couple of years to have farmers tell their stories, you know, on social media, and websites and agritourism and all those types of things to open up the farms to the consumer and to show them that farmers do care for their land and their animals.”

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia.com

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