The Midwest Meat Packing Facilities turkey processing plant is in Chapter 7 involuntary bankruptcy and has ceased operation in Gibbon, Neb.
Court documents say Midwest Meat Packing Facility hadn't paid Shinn's Turkey Track, of Dunning, $1.45 million for turkeys and had a total debt of more than $4.4 million. The Kearney Hub reported that the plant assets were listed at $2.5 million.
While the plant is closed, it still has turkeys to sell. Chapter 7 bankruptcies allow the sale of a debtor’s non-exempt property and the distribution of the proceeds to creditors. However, there were concerns about the quality and safety of the remaining turkeys, as the Nebraska Public Power District had discontinued service for most of January because of unpaid bills.
The previous owners closed the plant in December 2008 because of high feed and fuel costs. The plant reopened in 2010 with an investment from New York-based AMSA International.
It is uncertain how many workers have lost their jobs, but a press release issued in 2012 stated there were 50 employees at the plant.