Seed suppliers also working to keep their products safe.   Ottawa—Food processor organizations are asking provincial governments to designate their workers as a priority for Covid 19 vaccinations, especially in meat and others plants where employees work close together. The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) and Food and Beverage Canada made the request in the wake of Ontario and federal action designating processing plant workers as a priority. Meanwhile the seed industry outlined the measures its members are taking to ensure the safety of workers and customers. Chris White, President of the Canadian Meat Council, said the other provinces should follow Ontario's designation of meat workers as a priority group for phase 2 vaccinations. Starting in June, meat plants in Ontario will have access to vaccine to immunize workers in their plants. The province's move recognizes the importance of meat processors to the food supply chain, and the need to vaccinate their workforce, White said. “From freezer spaces to store vaccines, to nurses on-site, CMC members offer provinces and local public health units a solution as we can be self-sufficient to vaccinate our industry.” The pandemic has inflicted suffered shutdowns and slowdowns on the meat industry that impacted the supply chain and the ability to produce food for Canadians, White said That's mainly because of the close working conditions in plants which make meat processing employees vulnerable to the virus. FBC CEO Kathleen Sullivan said front-line food processing workers supported Canada's food system throughout COVID-19. “To ensure the stability of Canada's food supply, we are asking that you consider the importance of front-line food processing workers in the province's vaccination program.” “Few Canadian agriculture products make it to Canada's grocery shelves without first being transformed by one of the sector's 7,000 companies,” she said. “Since the start of COVID-19, the majority of our 300,000 workers have continued to work on-site in plants across the country to ensure Canadians have the food they need.” Public Safety Canada designated the food system as one of the country's critical infrastructure sectors. “As such, food manufacturers and their workers were expected to continue operating throughout the pandemic.” Sullivan said food manufacturers have invested more than $800 million to implement measures and controls to protect their workers from COVID-19. Given the congregate nature of food plants, however, that risk can never be eliminated. “What is more, as we have already seen, when a food plant shuts due to COVID-19, the entire supply chain is impacted - no one more so than producers who no longer have the ability to deliver their produce and livestock for processing.” The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has recommended that Stage 2 of a COVID-19 vaccination program should include staff of congregate settings and essential workers, she said. Food plant workers should be prioritized for vaccination after health care workers and vulnerable groups. The seed groups said with planting season coming soon, “it is a crucial time of year for agriculture, and the seed industry is committed to providing quality seed to farmers when they need it. There is no doubt that the seed industry provides essential services to ensure the security and stability of the agriculture supply chain.” There is a wide variety of measures that ensure seed can be safely sold and delivered to customers. “Our industry is committed to providing quality seed to farmers as the first step in the agricultural supply chain.” Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.