As Disaster Knocked at Our Doors

It goes without saying that COVID-19 is a different kind of crisis. At Kvarøy Arctic, we have seen many things over the course of the forty-four years we have been farming. From the waters of the Arctic circle to the Mid-Western plains of the United States, it was our greatest hope that COVID-19 would not touch us. As this crisis unfolded, we rapidly realized that with the ever-burgeoning number of cases, we had to pay attention and react quickly.

This crisis is different. It is not localized like an earthquake or hurricane or flooding – there is not one specific country, state or region that we can rush to aid. Unless you lived in the path of the hurricane, the earthquake, drought, fires, terrorism or wars, you were not impacted. In fact, as difficult as it is to say, we have grown accustomed to watching from afar – seeing images of devastation, hearing the anguished voices, donating to the Red Cross or to World Central Kitchen – and then going on with our days. But this? This one won’t allow us to turn our attention away.

In fact, this disaster is personal – each and every one of us has been impacted in some way or another. What is not different? As usual, the most vulnerable among us has been hit the hardest and will take the longest to recover.

Therefore, it was important for our team to support nonprofit organizations working in areas identified as having high numbers of affected individuals and those who are working with the most vulnerable populations in those areas to help build their capacity for response, support and recovery. These include the restaurant and hospitality communities, food banks, front line workers, rescue missions, the homeless and those vulnerable to the economic impacts of a pandemic.

The focus on supporting equitable and responsible recovery is crucial in any disaster, but especially this one. We hear the cries for help from chefs desperate to take care of their employees. We are fielding urgent calls from large food service providers assisting health care organizations feeding frontline works. We are jumping in to support restaurants feeding the most vulnerable parts of their community as well as the workers who are their lifeblood, including hourly wage earners that make up the heart of this economy.

According to FEMA, following a disaster, 90 percent of smaller businesses fail within a year unless they can resume operations within five days. Five days! With that fact in mind, the cascading impacts of the virus are staggering. At Kvarøy Arctic, we made the decision to not feel overwhelmed and immobilized. We had immediate work to do in an effort to keep our farm safe, our supply chain moving and create solutions that would give our family, employees and communities the support they needed. All while bringing a desperately needed, healthy sustainable fish to market.

At Kvarøy Arctic, we come from humble roots. Each and every team member in Norway and in the United States are on a journey of lifelong continuous learning. Those learnings have gotten us to where we are today. This crisis has reinforced our mantra as we learned from chefs, thought leaders and partners about where to give, what support is needed, and where it would have the most impact. We will never be the largest donor, but we will be generous of heart and have impact in our actions. Giving whenever and wherever we can.

This is surely a time to come together. To think about the needs in our communities large and small. To check on our family members, neighbors, and friends. To give as generously as we can because, as with all disasters, the process of recovery will be long, but together we can strengthen the ability for communities to respond and recover.

There are many organizations that need your help.
Please join us and our partners in supporting the following :