Indiana Packers set to begin pork production in Indiana facility

US-based pork supplier Indiana Packers (IPC) has announced its plans to resume limited operations at its facility in Delphi, Indiana today, after it was shut down last month due coronavirus (Covid-19).

IPC announced that the facility is being re-opened with support from the Carroll County Department of Health. It also worked jointly with Indiana State Department of Health as well as the Carroll County Department of Health to complete Covid-19 testing of 2,267 employees and contractors working at the facility on 1 May 2020.

IPC president and chief operating officer Russ Yearwood said: “This pause in operations and the testing of our employees was absolutely a critical moment in our ongoing effort to create a safe work environment.

“The safety of our team members, contractors and the community are crucial. We suspected the testing process would generate an increase in positive cases unknown to us, but this was the point. This voluntary testing event identified those who are positive for the virus.”

As the operations were paused at the facility, IPC carried out multiple steps of deep cleaning and plant-wide sanitisation at the facility and also enhanced mitigation measures and followed CDC and OSHA guidance by adding more physical barriers and hand sanitizer dispensers.

Additionally, the facility was inspected by Carroll County’s health official Dr Jordan Dutter, who reviewed all the initiatives undertaken by the company to ensure the safety of IPC’s team members.

Dr Dutter said: “I was very impressed with IPC’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus and the Company’s dedication to best ensure the health and safety of its team members.

“Based upon my tour and review of IPC’s mitigation efforts, I believe the measures taken by IPC will allow those team members to work safely, as IPC continues to follow CDC guidelines and recommendations.

“I want to reiterate that IPC went to extensive efforts to ensure the safety of their employees, their end product and ultimately the consumers. We at the Carroll County Department of Health recognize IPC’s vital role in the food chain and in the agricultural community and are pleased that the Company is reopening operations. Indeed, the decision to reopen has my full support.”

In October 2018, IPC completed the acquisition of Specialty Foods Group (SFG) from Specialty Foods Group Income Fund.

SFG manufactures and distributes Kentucky Legend premium boneless ham products in grocery retailers across the US.