5@5: Walmart unveils membership program | Black communities bridge food access gap

Walmart’s Amazon Prime competitor will launch in July

Walmart+, Walmart's answer to Amazon Prime, is a new membership program from the retail behemoth that will be offered to shoppers for $98 a year. Included in the subscription is same-day delivery of groceries, discounts on fuel and early access to product deals. Read more at Vox…

How Black communities are bridging the food access gap

COVID-19 has disproportionately affected the Black population, both health-wise and economically. In response Black-led organizations like Harlem Grown are mobilizing to get fresh food and groceries to underserved populations, and one chef is using the opportunity to "use food to investigate the intersection of food and different cultures." Read more at Civil Eats…

How you get your berries: Migrant workers who fear virus, but toil on

Migrant farmworkers are considered essential, meaning they are exempt from both stay-at-home orders and 14-day quarantine rules some states have implemented to control virus transmissions from out-of-state visitors. Testing is a high priority for farmers looking to capitalize on the short growing season of produce such as blueberries, but there are still no penalties for noncompliance with state health officials' recommendations. Read more at The New York Times…

Jelly Belly, Piggly Wiggly, and P.F. Chang’s: Multimillion-dollar Covid-19 relief loans go to firms that stretch the definition of 'small'

Thousands of food companies received funding from the Payment Protection Program, including some that have seen financial gains during this stressful time. For example, Piggly Wiggly stores have reported a massive uptick in sales and are generally thriving—yet the chain received loans ranging from $150,000 to $1 million. Read more at The Counter…

The pandemic is rewriting the rules of retail

There will be no return to normal for the nation's retailers. Consumers are expected to continue shopping online, so having a modern e-commerce experience is a must for businesses moving forward. Additionally, retailers must make in-store experiences especially extraordinary for those who do venture out to brick-and-mortar locations. Read more at Harvard Business Review…