Five Fixers weigh in on the state of our food system, during and after the coronavirus pandemic.

From restaurant closures to empty grocery-store shelves, it’s obvious that the food system has been taking a hit in the new global reality of COVID-19. This pandemic has exposed the fact that many of our country’s food supply-chain workers have zilch in the way of a safety net. Meanwhile, without schools and restaurants to supply to, many farms are having trouble pivoting to new markets, while many farmworkers lack basic protections to carry out their essential work. Put simply: It’s a mess.

Of course, there are also bright spots. Acclaimed chefs like José Andrés of World Central Kitchen are preparing thousands of free or low-cost meals for communities in need. Locals in places like the San Francisco Bay Area are sewing masks for nearby farmworkers. And “victory gardens” are starting to come back in vogue.