Green Circle Growers/Express Seed Co./Fresh2U Transportation

FAQ re: COVID-19


Why is it necessary for GCG/ESC/F2U to remain open?

Because we are an agricultural business, we are among the “essential businesses” listed in the Governor’s Order and in the CISA (Homeland Security) memorandum as an essential Business and therefore encouraged to remain open under the Ohio Department of Health “Stay at Home” order. We are carefully adhering to recommendations from public health officials and medical experts to protect employee and community health during this pandemic. We reached out directly to the Governor’s office to make sure our business fits the criteria for an essential business.

How does CISA define an ‘essential business’?

The CISA memorandum defines Critical Manufacturing as essential businesses. Workers necessary for the manufacturing of materials and products needed for medical supply chains, and for supply chains associated with transportation, energy, communications, food and agriculture, chemical manufacturing, nuclear facilities, the operation of dams, water and wastewater treatment, emergency services, and the defense industrial base. Additionally, workers needed to maintain the continuity of these manufacturing functions and associated supply chains.

How does Ohio define agriculture?

The definition of Agriculture in the Ohio Revised Code is fairly broad and reads: “agriculture" includes farming; ranching; aquaculture; alga culture meaning the farming of algae; apiculture and related apicultural activities, production of honey, beeswax, honeycomb, and other related products; horticulture; viticulture, winemaking, and related activities; animal husbandry, including, but not limited to, the care and raising of livestock, equine, and fur-bearing animals; poultry husbandry and the production of poultry and poultry products; dairy production; the production of field crops, tobacco, fruits, vegetables, nursery stock, ornamental shrubs, ornamental trees, flowers, sod, or mushrooms; timber; pasturage; any combination of the foregoing; the processing, drying, storage, and marketing of agricultural products when those activities are conducted in conjunction with, but are secondary to, such husbandry or production; and any additions or modifications to the foregoing made by the director of agriculture by rule adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.