[Farm Name & Address, or Letterhead]
ESSENTIAL FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYEE WORK PERMIT
March
2020
The
identified farm/business hereby requests this employee be granted the right to
proceed to work and the right to proceed home after work consistent with the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) identification that the production and
supply of food is one of 16 critical infrastructure areas providing vital
service to the nation.
In
its advisory issued on Thursday, March 20, the DHS indicated that “If you
work in a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the Department of
Homeland Security, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal
work schedule.” https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce
Agricultural
labor is identified as a critical component of that food supply, and thus it is
important that workers who make up an essential part of the food supply chain
be allowed to remain operational.
As state
and local communities implement COVID-19-related movement restrictions, it is
imperative that they allow for the appropriate movement of critical
infrastructure workers within and between jurisdictions.
__________________________________[Insert
Employee Name] is an employee of _____________________________[Insert
Farm Name/Business Name], and
requests permission to travel to and from a place of employment per the
official federal guidance document issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security.
For verification or inquiries
regarding this request, please contact the farm business above at [insert
phone].
Issued by:
_______________________________ ______________
[CEO/Owner] Date
The
Department of Homeland Security defines Food and Agriculture workers as:
- Workers
supporting groceries, pharmacies and other retail that sells food and
beverage products
- Restaurant
carry-out and quick serve food operations - Carry-out and delivery food
employees
- Food
manufacturer employees and their supplier employees—to include those
employed in food processing (packers, meat processing, cheese plants, milk
plants, produce, etc.) facilities; livestock, poultry, seafood slaughter
facilities; pet and animal feed processing facilities; human food
facilities producing by-products for animal food; beverage production
facilities; and the production of food packaging
- Farm
workers to include those employed in animal food, feed, and ingredient
production, packaging, and distribution; manufacturing, packaging, and
distribution of veterinary drugs; truck delivery and transport; farm and
fishery labor needed to produce our food supply domestically
- Farm
workers and support service workers to include those who field crops;
commodity inspection; fuel ethanol facilities; storage facilities; and
other agricultural inputs
- Employees
and firms supporting food, feed, and beverage distribution, including
warehouse workers, vendor-managed inventory controllers and blockchain
managers
- Workers
supporting the sanitation of all food manufacturing processes and
operations from wholesale to retail
- Company
cafeterias - in-plant cafeterias used to feed employees
- Workers
in food testing labs in private industries and in institutions of higher
education
- Workers
essential for assistance programs and government payments
- Employees
of companies engaged in the production of chemicals, medicines, vaccines,
and other substances used by the food and agriculture industry, including
pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, minerals, enrichments, and other
agricultural production aids
- Animal
agriculture workers to include those employed in veterinary health;
manufacturing and distribution of animal medical materials, animal
vaccines, animal drugs, feed ingredients, feed, and bedding, etc.;
transportation of live animals, animal medical materials; transportation
of deceased animals for disposal; raising of animals for food; animal
production operations; slaughter and packing plants and associated
regulatory and government workforce
- Workers
who support the manufacture and distribution of forest products,
including, but not limited to timber, paper, and other wood products
- Employees
engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other
infrastructure necessary to agricultural production and distribution
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