Melania Trump and I have something in common.
We both enjoy smoothies for breakfast. (Facebook source)
I blend a variety of fruits, berries, low-fat yogurt and juice for a light and nutritious start to the day.
As I handle the food, I think of, and pray for the workers who have been involved in growing, harvesting, and transporting this produce.
Due to the pandemic, and travel restrictions, the world is facing a shortage of fruit harvesters this year.
In the UK, some suggestions have been made that recently unemployed workers should harvest fruit.
This is unrealistic, since fruit harvesters require great physical fitness, superior stamina and endurance, and exceptional knowledge of when the time is right to pick fruit. Food harvesting is far from being an ‘unskilled’ job.
Attempts to use robots to harvest fruit have not been successful, since they often roughly damage the food.
Some food will be left to spoil in the fields this year, as there are too few harvesters available. Food shortages are likely in some places, and the World Food Program (WFP) released statistics that 260 million people globally could face extreme hunger.
The past few months have been reminders for all of us to be truly grateful for the food God provides, and for the many workers involved in the process of bringing foods to our tables.

Thanks for sharing this Sally. You always make me aware of things I probably would not think too much about – like the shortage of food harvesters.
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Thanks so much.
And thanks for the smoothie suggestions that you have shared with me ! π€
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My pleasure π
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You always post tasty recipes..π€
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π€π
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Great message. And I’ll have to try this. I haven’t made a smoothie in a long time.
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If you’re unemployed…pick fruit. That sounds like a very rewarding job to me. Much better than letting it spoil. β€
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I had not thought of this.
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Where I live the “farmers markets” are still shut down, so many of the small local farmers are struggling. It is a difficult situation for everyone. πΌ
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Yes, I agree. It has made us all pay more attention to what is involved in food production. π€
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Where we live in Michigan many orchards have “pick your own.” People buy fruit at reduced prices and pick it themselves. (I think we pick more carefully when we’re picking it for our own families. )
As for the job’s being strenuous – all the people who have been complaining about the gyms being closed, maybe they should stop grousing and get to the orchards for some exercise. π
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That is an excellent idea ! We have no fruit growing here, but in late summer we have an abundance of blueberries and partridgeberries, ( lignonberries), which we also pick ourselves.
These berries traditionally prevented people from getting scurvy.
And yes, berry picking is good exercise too.
Traditionally people worked hard to obtain their daily bread. Children these days often think that food comes from grocery stores. π€
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It doesn’t? Lol, and they think money comes out of the wall at the bank, right? π
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Hahaha…π€
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Edutainment.
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Great reminder to be even more thankful.
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Thank you for this thoughtful reminder.
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Not a skimpy breakfast and certainly not shabby company to have something like that in common with; the First Lady is fit and beautiful, highly intelligent and fluent in 6 languages! I need to improve my dining habits and who I have things in common with now that you led by example Lady Sally! π€ π π π π π
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Hahaha…π Thanks, Lawrence !
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π π€ π π Hehehe… but I can’t run on laughs; they’re mostly hot air!!! But you are welcome Sally! π
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Another good adage, Lawrence ! π€
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Gee-Wiz, they just seem to pop into my head, which is a lot better than a popping head! There was the band Talking Heads; that’s more my speed or Lingo! π π€ π π
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Hi Sally,
Great post β€ And you are totally right. We should all be grateful for the food God provides and honestly this whole crisis has made me feel a lot more grateful for everything I got and it has strengthened my belief in God.
And well yes..something in common π me too I enjoy smoothies for breakfast. I especially love the ones with celery (pretty addicted to celery to be honest…)
Blessings,
Mark
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Hi Mark ! Celery is delicious, and nutritious, and we usually have some around too. I think this has been a time to make us all more appreciative of food, where it comes from, and all the hands involved to bring it to us.
Our island, I must say, has been slack about not growing enough of our own food.
Our ferries are not running as much as formerly, so some products are becoming unavailable.
But, recently , I have seen that the govt. is growing fields of vegetables.
Yes, I agree with you, Mark, this time has made us trust God more, and has made us more grateful for all his blessings. π€
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There are many things about a human’s touch that machines may never be able to replicate.
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Yes, Temi, I agree. Machines will never be able to replicate the sensitivity of human touch. π€
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You have such a beautiful heart and soul……….
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That is very kind of you to say, Wendi. Thank-you.π€
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my pleasure…..
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I love smoothies too!! ππ You are right when you said about the food shortage during the pandemic. True, farmers are facing a very tough time! May none waste food ever!!
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Many younger people over here in England have taken up the picking task – they acknowledge how tough it is, but would rather do the job than nothing. Traditionally the work has been done by European workers because English people won’t do it. Perhaps that is something that will change.
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Hi Derrick – Good to hear that the younger people have taken up the picking task. Perhaps it will awaken in them the joy of growing food, and a general enjoyment of gardening, and caring for the earth.π€
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I hope so – some are university students
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