Where were you???

Where were you when (insert event here)? This question is one asked many times over in our lives. There are events that change our outlook and shape our lives all the time, but there are few events that impact daily lives as we know it. One such event took place in March of this year, the Covid-19 pandemic, which basically shut down our country.

I never imagined that such a thing would ever happen in my lifetime as what has taken place this year. I have seen the impacts of war, September 11th, the recession of 2008 and many more similar life changing events. These types of events not only impact everyday life but also can have huge effects on how business is done.

Here at Gourmet Mushrooms Inc, we have certainly felt the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. From employees to customers and delivery impacts, all have played a part in a new normality. Two farms located in different states has also caused some differing impacts on when and how things are being done. But then again changes to company-wide policies have also been made. Even though GMI is a food safe third-party audited company, we have instituted additional policies since the start of the pandemic. Some of our new policies are based on guidelines set forth by the CDC while others include maintaining proper social distancing, requiring face masks in all buildings, taking daily employee temperature readings and simply staying at home when feeling ill or experiencing symptoms associated with the Covid-19 coronavirus. It may seem like we are only following the guidelines established by the CDC, in which we are, but it also means we are striving to protect our employees and their families by doing the right things. Additionally, we are limiting the number of visitors to each farm, restricting truck drivers or vendors from entering the buildings, and have implemented new operating procedures to help improve social distancing in the harvest and packing departments.

Regarding our public Farm Sales, we have been hosting our sales outdoors, enforcing facial coverings, social distancing and establishing proper guidelines in efforts to keep our customers and employees safe.

As to be expected, Gourmet Mushrooms also suffered from reduced sales during the initial first stages of the pandemic, though we have recovered nicely in a fairly short period of time. During this timeframe, we have also reviewed procedures and have become more efficient and effective on some of the things we do. It has also helped to build a stronger team moving forward. We had to become stronger, we had to work together!

Our team at Gourmet Mushrooms strives to do our part in making sure we protect our employees as well as continuing to provide to our customers. We are ever-growing as a company and move forward in providing a reliable food source to our communities and consumers alike. I can vouch that we have supplemented the Mason County, Michigan community with donations to the Lakeshore Food Club, along with the Redwood Empire Food Bank in Sonoma County, California, who provide meals to families in need. My conversations with the director of the club are always eye-opening as she tells me about the number of families that we help provide for and the frequent calls she gets asking if they have any of the delicious mushrooms from the mushroom farm in Scottville.

As we push onward and through together, we hope that everyone remains healthy and safe!