In Belgium, the coronavirus pandemic has created an unexpected economic setback... They have too many potatoes.
Pommes Frites is an integral staple of Belgian culture, however, as restaurants have closed their doors due to the virus outbreak, the potato industry has taken a hit.
The drop in demand has now put a massive strain on the industry's freezer capacity. As a result, Belgapom, a potato industry group, is making a straightforward plea to the citizens of Belgium: please eat French at least twice per week.
"We're working with supermarkets to see whether we can launch a campaign asking Belgians to do something for the sector by eating fries—especially frozen fries—twice a week during the coronavirus crisis," said Romain Cools, the secretary-general of Belgapom. "What we are trying to do is to avoid food waste, because every lost potato is a loss."
Despite the tremendous amount of food waste brought on by the coronavirus, U.S. food banks are struggling more than ever. Food banks can only store so many perishable goods. Some farmers in the US are even giving away their crops rather than tossing millions of pounds of perfectly good produce.
In the meantime, sign us up for twice-weekly fry consumption. Who knew that one day eating fries would be an act of humanitarianism?