And, diversity is still a challenge in the agricultural industry. According to the census, 95 percent of American farmers are white and on average, are just over 58 years old.

“We’re wondering what this next crop year brings,” said Brian Duncan. “But farmers are price takers, and that puts us in a really tough spot.”

“I guess, thanks in large part to COVID, we had a lot of people looking for outdoor picking and being outside at farms,” says Red Apple Farm owner Al Rose.