Coronavirus may permanently change how we buy our food
Like most Americans, Steve Rainwater never used online grocery services. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit. Now his family -- Rainwater, his wife and two cats -- are getting food using Instacart and Whole Foods deliveries.
"Provided all these services keep delivering, I'm sure I could do this indefinitely," Rainwater, a software developer in his 50s who lives in Irving, Texas, outside of Dallas, said last week.
He's not alone. Millions of people across the country have turned to online meal kit providers like Blue Apron and delivery services like Peapod and FreshDirect to get their regular groceries as the pandemic has forced them to remain at home, fearful of going to the local supermarket or convenience store.
This severe and sudden change in lifestyle has brought a surge of new orders and customers to these companies, which have been trying for years to convince shoppers to buy more of their food online. But the increased attention has brought new and painful problems, such as out-of-stock items and frustrated customers and employees. Workers for both Instacart and Whole Foods staged prominent demonstrations this week to protest what they see as unsafe working conditions during the crisis.
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