Smithfield Foods Inc. is warning consumers that the country is coming close to a meat shortage after they shut down their plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The company says they are one of the largest pork processing facilities in the U.S.
In a press release about the closure, president and CEO of Smithfield Kenneth M. Sullivan says the country is coming "perilously close" to a meat shortage.
"The closure of this facility, combined with a growing list of other protein plants that have shuttered across our industry, is pushing our country perilously close to the edge in terms of our meat supply. It is impossible to keep our grocery stores stocked if our plants are not running," Sullivan said.
He also went on to explain that the closures would negatively impact farmers who have "nowhere to send their animals," People reports.
According to the company, the plant supplies nearly 130 million servings of food per week and employs 3,700 workers. They work with more than 550 independent farmers to obtain livestock.
The company plans to pay employees for two weeks and will reopen once given proper guidelines from local, state, and federal officials.
Sullivan said, "We believe it is our obligation to help feed the country, now more than ever. We have a stark choice as a nation: we are either going to produce food or not, even in the face of COVID-19."
Smithfield is not the only food company that has halted meat production. Tyson Foods Inc. announced its Columbus Junction, Iowa closure after employees tested positive for coronavirus.
Tyson CEO Noel White said in a statement, "While these are challenging times, we remain committed to protecting our people while continuing to meet the needs of our customers and consumers across America."
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