Perdue Farms Issues Statement on New VA Workplace Requirements

Perdue Farms this week issued a statement reiterating its efforts to protect workers and the food supply chain on the heels of the state of Virginia having enacted new mandatory requirements for workplaces to keep employees safe during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Perdue Farms employs more than 3,300 associates throughout its Virginia facilities including poultry operations in Accomac and Bridgewater, distribution center in Prince George, and a deepwater port and grain facility in Chesapeake, as well as nearly 70 poultry farm families and more than 800 grain farmers, contributing nearly $930 million in economic impact to the state annually. Perdue’s poultry facilities fall into Virginia’s “Medium Risk” category. Other types of businesses in this category include schools, daycares, grocery stores, correctional facilities, sports and entertainment venues, and more.

Mark McKay, President of Perdue Foods, issued the following statement:

“While we are already – and have been beginning in early March – in compliance with the State of Virginia’s new safety measures in accordance with CDC guidelines, we welcome these requirements and applaud the officials responsible for enacting them with the shared value of protecting our colleagues and neighbors. Perdue Farms firmly believes the health of our associates must come first in everything we do. Our ability to be part of our nation’s food supply throughout this pandemic is due to our company’s, including our associates’, responsiveness and attention to social distancing, sanitation, use of masks and other personal protective equipment, and much more to keep Covid-19 at bay. Throughout this pandemic, Perdue has been ahead of the curve in putting measures in place to mitigate Covid-19 often before guidance from federal or state agencies was available, and we have continually added new precautions as we learned more and guidance from public health experts evolved. Perdue remains committed to creating the safest possible workplace for our essential, frontline employees in the state of Virginia and nationwide.”

A complete list of steps Perdue Farms has taken to protect and support associates throughout Covid-19 is provided on the company’s Covid-19 Response web page.