Pennsylvania Governor Declares Greenhouse Providers as ‘Essential Services’

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture  issued guidance for the agriculture industry on essential businesses and how those businesses can mitigate against COVID-19 while maintaining essential operations to ensure access to food.

On March 17, Governor Tom Wolf provided an update related to Pennsylvania’s statewide mitigation efforts and noted that among other other types of business horticulture and agriculture business are providing essential services during the current crisis.

In part, Wolfe’s statement said, “Essential businesses for a safe and accessible food supply include farms, greenhouses and vegetable plants, orchards, pest management services, feed mills and ag supply businesses, agriculture equipment sales and services, animal feed and supply distribution network, transportation system from farm to retail, food and meat processors and manufacturers, veterinary services and supplies, distribution and transportation system from processors and manufacturers to retailers, retailers to include grocery stores and farmers markets, grocery delivery services, laboratories, and inspectors that ensure food safety.”

Wolf’s guidance is great news for growers and garden centers who are producing and selling vegetable plants as they definitely fall under this definition.