WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- Maintaining the nation's food supply during the COVID-19 pandemic was at the heart of a round-table discussion Friday afternoon with Vice President Mike Pence in West Des Moines.
"We gather today in the state of Iowa at an extraordinary time in the life of our nation. I want to say to the people of Iowa that we're never too far from remembering those who've been lost to the coronavirus--here in this state more than 243 Iowans" Pence says.
Vice President Pence was joined by a number of state and federal leaders, including Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.
"Ten percent of the nation's food supply is grown by our Iowa farmers. Because of that, during this COVID crisis, nearly 80 percent of our businesses and workforce was deemed essential and has remained open to keep the food supply chain moving" Reynolds says.
Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, and US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue were also part of Friday's discussion at the West Des Moines headquarters of the Hy-Vee grocery store chain
Pence started Friday's visit to Iowa with a meeting with statewide faith leaders in Des Moines.