Smithfield Foods plans to close its Sioux Falls processing plant for three days. That’s after local health officials estimated more than 80 cases among the plant’s workers testing positive for the coronavirus. Smithfield plans to deep clean the plant and put in barriers to help employees work further apart. South Dakota Pork Producers Council President Craig Andersen is hoping their won’t be a big impact to the pork industry of the temporary shutdown.
He says it’s imperative that pork processing plants keep operating so as not to disrupt the nation’s food supply.
Andersen says with the Smithfield temporary closing and other recent processing shutdowns, it’s critical those aren’t long term.
Smithfield CEO Ken Sullivan said that it’s imperative the company keep operating, as people need to eat.
