Perdue closing chicken plant in Fredericksburg, Pa.

SALISBURY, Md. — Perdue is closing a chicken production plant in Fredericksburg, Pa., and its related distribution center in Denver, Pa.

The company announced Jan. 15 it is consolidating production from the Booth Creek Natural Chicken (BCNC) plant in Fredericksburg to more modernized plants.

The plant serves customers for its Coleman and customer-owned organic and no-antibiotics-ever brands.

“When we looked at our long-term needs, it became clear that the BCNC plant would require significant and costly upgrades, and even then, we would not overcome the age and physical limitations of the facility,” said Lester Gray, senior vice president of operations for Perdue Foods.

The Fredericksburg, Pa., plant will close on or shortly after March 14. The lease for a distribution center in Denver, Pa., that serves the BCNC plant will not be renewed.

Employees are being offered the opportunity to transfer to other Perdue facilities. Workers who choose not to transfer will be offered severance packages, including extended benefits coverage.

Organic emphasis

Perdue will continue organic chicken production with the Pennsylvania farmers, USDA certified organic feed ingredient suppliers and organic feed manufacturing, and local hatchery.

The company plans to work with its other Pennsylvania growers to transition them to organic production. Perdue Farms is also contracting with Pennsylvania farmers as it develops a breeder operation in the state.

“These moves are part of an ongoing strategy to focus on premium brands and products in the USDA Process Verified All-Vegetarian Fed, No-Antibiotics-Ever, and Organic segments,” said Chairman Jim Perdue.