FARE

Restaurants, farmers, and ranchers who are all struggling to survive, have formed a trade group called Fare an acronym for Food, Agriculture, Restaurants and Establishments to help each other out according to organizer Katie Baker:

"Right now our focus is on the independent restaurants that ultimately will help our independent farmers. An Idaho farmer that grows beef here in Idaho may sell to a restaurant in New York City or San Francisco, they may close and it affects our farmers in Idaho," said Baker. 

According to FARE, there were 3,385 small independent restaurants in Idaho before the COVID-related restrictions. Restaurants have struggled with many shutting down permanently or barely afloat. Restaurant owner Dave Krick: 

"One of the easiest things we can do is help the business model of the farmer. By helping open up markets, local markets, in particular, are some of the most lucrative for them because they can direct sale, and that's our primary focus," said Krick. 

One advantage of selling locally for farmers is that they make a direct sale without the middleman. Farmers helping Restaurants helping farmers. A coalition in the time of Covid.