Heifer Ecuador's Future of Food program kicked off in 2019 to boost the production of nutritious, sustainably grown food and reach urban customers. The goal of the program is to close the living income gap for thousands of small-scale farming families. In Ecuador the living income—the amount of money each person in a household needs per day to live a dignified life—is $5.26 in the highlands and $5.36 on the coast, yet many farmers in Ecuador make less than $4.00 daily.  As reported in The New York Times, Ecuador faced one of the world's worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the first several months of 2020. In response, the government mandated a national lockdown. With longer supply chains suddenly broken, Heifer Ecuador supported local farmers in delivering baskets of vegetables, grains, and beans by bicycle and well-sanitized rented vehicles to families quarantined in the city, protecting farmer livelihoods and meeting consumer needs. More Information