Perdue Farms is preparing to restart grain receiving and oilseed crush operations at its Cofield, North Carolina facility on Monday, August 3. The feed mill was dismantled following a February 21 explosion, and the company has focused on safely preparing the remaining operations for a return to production.
The restart of Perdue Farms' Cofield facility is significant as it restores critical grain and oilseed operations, impacting the local supply chain and employment after a major incident required extensive repairs and safety protocols.
Perdue Farms is set to resume grain receiving and oilseed crush operations at its Cofield, North Carolina facility on Monday, August 3, following a feed mill explosion on February 21. The company has completed the dismantling of the damaged feed mill, which began on April 20 and concluded on June 12, after determining it could not be safely repaired.
While the grain receiving and oilseed crush operations were not directly damaged by the explosion, they were temporarily closed due to their proximity to the feed mill. Perdue has focused on ensuring a safe environment for its employees and the community as it prepares for the phased restart of operations, with oilseed crush expected to return to normal first, followed shortly by grain receiving.
The company has been working with affected associates to identify alternative employment opportunities and expressed gratitude for the patience and resilience of its Cofield-based employees, as well as the support from local leaders and first responders. The investigation into the cause of the February 21 incident is ongoing, with Perdue cooperating fully with authorities.