Dear Colleagues,

The first front in the fight against COVID-19 is to prepare the immune system for the expected viral effects. Quarantine regulations have clearly changed trends in line with past practice, which can lead to radical changes in eating habits. The change in the input materials of usual food consumption and the composition of nutrient intake have also undergone cardinal changes during the pandemic period. International studies have already shown that nutrient and/or vitamin deficiencies simultaneously characterized the population remaining at home during the quarantine period. Many foods (vegetables and fruits) are known to enhance the body’s immunity, yet there has been a significant decline in consumption of these products, with nutrient and vitamin deficiencies unfortunately being very common in certain consumer groups. In line with the above, we ask the following research questions to potential authors of the Special Issue: What significant changes have there been in food consumption and vitamin intake during the pandemic period? What are the fruit and vegetable content characteristics through which the immune system can be significantly conditioned? What role does food-assisted vitamin intake play in consumer decisions? Are there regional or national differences in purchasing responses to “quarantine consumption”? What nutrient and vitamin deficiencies have developed in consumers during the quarantine period, and can we find answers to these in local supply systems (appropriate foods)? What are the possible roles of city gardening in vegetable and fruit production during a pandemic? How can we reduce the number of COVID-19 patients and increase consumer immunity through the local food supply system (in case of border closures)? Does the overall reduction in local pollution improve food quality, and how does it affect the quantity and quality of nutrients consumed?

This Special Issue focuses its attention on the following topics but is not limited to them:

• Food consumption during the Covid quarantine period;
• The immune system and food consumption;
• Condition of vegetable and fruit production during a pandemic period;
• Condition of vegetable and fruit consumption during a pandemic period;
• Causes of nutrient and vitamin deficiencies;
• Food-assisted vitamin intake;
• Local supply systems in food production;
• Food quality and food pollution during the Covid quarantine period;
• Regional aspects of nutrient and vitamin content of foods;
• Local production systems in the cities, forms of city gardening;
• Interpretation of local food value circles.

Planned papers of special issue:

• Gyuricza, C. – Pércsi, K. – Újj, A.: Causes of vegetable and fruit consumption deficits during the pandemic period – Hungarian case study;
• Fogarassy, C. – Tóth, L. – Helyes, L.: Use of convective drying and shortwave energy transfer for tomato drying to reduce energy consumption and maintain nutrient content;
• Lakner, Z. – Plasek, B.: Evaluation of factors influencing the perceived nutrient and vitamin content of foods – review.

Dr. Fogarassy Csaba
Prof. Dr. Gyuricza Csaba
Guest Editors

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• COVID-19
• food consumption
• nutrient intake
• local food
• value circle
• Vitamin deficiencies
• vegetable and fruit consumption
• city gardening
• local food value circle
• reduction in local pollution