About 20 contract turkey growers in Missouri have been informed by Butterball that their contracts with the company will end in 90 days.
The decision is a reflection of tough market conditions that have troubled the turkey industry in recent years, the company stated, and was not related to the present COVID-19 pandemic that has led to worker shortages at meat processing plants.
“As part of our overall strategy and driven by the turkey commodity market and weakened international demand, Butterball has made the difficult decision to discontinue contracts with a limited number of growers in the Midwest region,” Butterball said in a statement it issued to KRCG. “This reflects an extremely small portion of our total output and will not impact foodservice or retail supply. We have appreciated the many years of hard work and partnership of these growers. … We will fulfill our contractual obligation to our partners.
Two of those contract farmers, who asked not to be identified, told KRCG they were shocked by the news, and hoped they could be picked up by another turkey company.
According to the Butterball website, the company operates a plant in Carthage, Missouri, that processes bulk turkey and pre-blends for other plants, frozen turkey breasts, and ready-to-cook frozen boneless turkey roasts. It also operates three facilities in Arkansas –in Huntsville, Jonesboro and Ozark. The remainder of the company’s facilities are in North Carolina.
COVID-19 cases at Butterball plant
While Butterball said the ending of those grower contracts was not related to the current COVID-19 pandemic, other operations within the company have been impacted by the pandemic.
WITN, citing a series of memos to Butterball employees from company CEO Jay Jandrain, reported that 52 employees at the Butterball plant in Mount Olive, North Carolina, have tested positive for COVID-19. The first memo referenced by WITN was issued on April 13.
Donation to food bank
In an effort to help feed people amid the COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina communities where Butterball has a presence, the company recently donated 500,000 meals to The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
View our continuing coverage of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.
