The full force of the pandemic left little lead time for preparation. People panicked and began stocking up on supplies, not knowing what they might need and for how long, resulting in long lines in grocery stores and shortages of basics. Stores experienced sharp increases in the purchase of dried beans and rice, pasta, canned goods, flour and yeast. New Yorkers hunkered down for the long haul, unsure of when the supply chain would normalize. Some people turned to alternative sources for their grocery needs, turning to green markets, meal kits, produce vendors, and new direct to consumer pathways from restaurants and wholesale distributors. Essential workers, many of them working in food distribution networks had no choice but to venture out every day. As the number of coronavirus cases decreased and stabilized over the summer, the anxieties and fears which spurred initial hoarding subsided for many, but left lasting effects on grocery workers and food shopping trends.
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