For Black farmers, the outbreak has become a stark reminder of why their work matters. That direct relationship matters especially for Black communities, where food access has long been shaped by disinvestment, land loss, and the decline of Black farmers. Supporting Black-owned farms, Jazar said, is about sustaining local institutions that can feed, employ, and educate their own communities. It is to build stronger relationships with growers and to rethink what fresh food can look like in season. Black farmers are necessary,” Jazar said.