(RoyalPatriot.com )- Last week, officials from George’s Prepared Foods announced that they were closing their Caryville, Tennessee food processing plant this fall, leaving nearly 200 workers without a job.
Robert George, the senior vice president of George’s Foods released a statement on the decision to close the Caryville plant, citing the current volatility in the beef and pork markets. George explained that to ensure “the long-term strength” of the company during the economically challenging environment, George’s Foods had to consider how each location was performing.
As such, George explained, the Campos Foods plant in Caryville would be discontinuing production effective September 2. The company will work with the employees impacted by the plant’s closure and “support them as we transition.”
Moving forward, George explained, the company will “focus on producing high-quality poultry products and creating a strong and stable future for our business.”
Campbell County Mayor E.L. Morton told reporters that he has contacted the Tennessee Economic and Community Development staff asking for assistance in keeping the Caryville plant open or “facilitating a sale to another operator.” Morton said he also contacted Tennessee Governor Lee’s office requesting assistance as well.
The closure of the Caryville plant is just one in a number of food processing plant closures.
In mid-June, the Virginia-based Smithfield Foods announced that its only California plant will be closing next year due to the rising costs of doing business in the state.
The Farmer John meat packing plant in the industrial south suburb of Vernon outside of Los Angeles will close its doors in February leaving 1,800 employees without work.
Some of the operations from the Vernon plant will be moved to other Smithfield facilities in the Midwest, but the overall reduction in its processing capacity has prompted Smithfield to reduce its sow herd in Utah.
And while some companies are closing plants down, other food processing plants are suffering due to a series of fires and explosions.
In the first week of June alone, seven major farm fires across the US caused disruptions in food production.
