Senate approves extending Paycheck Protection Program

On Tuesday the Senate unanimously granted small businesses five additional weeks of federal aid via the Paycheck Protection Program; the application period has been extended until August 8. New outbreaks of the novel coronavirus have forced many states to scrap their reopening plans, leaving small businesses once again scrambling for both funds and guidance. Read more at The New York Times…

Beyond Burger arrives at grocery stores in China 

China is the world's biggest market for meat consumption, which makes Beyond Meat's much-anticipated foray into the country's supermarkets especially significant. Beyond Meat faces competition from a plethora of local fake meat brands, however, including Hong Kong's Omnipork and Alpha Foods. Beyond Meat's retail success (or lack thereof) will serve as an example for other U.S.-based brands looking to capitalize on Chinese citizens' growing desire for safe, environmentally friendly meat alternatives. Read more at Tech Crunch…

Amazon, Whole Foods says it's giving more than $500M in 'thank you' bonuses to workers

Amazon announced this week that it will be distributing over $500 million in bonuses for its frontline workers as a gesture of appreciation for their service in the face of COVID-19; employees will each receive anywhere from an extra $150 to $3,000. Amazon has faced criticism throughout the pandemic for failing to implement adequate safety precautions in its warehouses and ending its hourly pay increase for essential workers in May. Read more at WKYC…

Bayer forges ahead with new crops resistant to 5 herbicides

Bayer is awaiting approval to bring a genetically engineered variety of corn to market that would be resistant to at least five herbicides at once, including dicamba. Herbicide-resistant crops tend to significantly increase the amount of chemicals farmers end up applying to these plants, and which eventually make their way onto consumers' plates. Read more at Civil Eats…

The USDA's food box program is off to a rocky start

The Department of Agriculture fell more than 10 million food box deliveries short of its intended goal by the end of June. Meanwhile, lawmakers continue to push for an increase in SNAP benefits as a more effective and humane way to help America's struggling families. Read more at The Counter…