Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 10/2/8/16


Smithfield Foods’ giant pork processing plant in Tar Heel, N.C., has stopped its slaughter operations until Monday, due to problems related to Hurricane Matthew earlier this month, a spokeswoman confirmed to Meatingplace.

Smithfield spokeswoman Kathleen Kirkham said the plant, “is facing operational issues as the company is still regaining footing following the impacts of Hurricane Matthew earlier this month. These issues will impede the facility’s ability to harvest through Friday, Oct. 28th. We anticipate the plant will resume normal operations on Monday, October 31st.”

Kirkham said some plant operations would continue on a limited basis for the rest of the week. The Tar Heel plant has a processing capacity of about 32,500 hogs per day, according to industry estimates.  

In mid-October, Hurricane Matthew caused massive flooding in North Carolina and about $1.5 billion in damage to 100,000 homes, businesses and government buildings, state officials have estimated. At that time, the Smithfield spokeswoman said none of the company’s North Carolina plants had suffered substantive damage, but flooding was making the movement of hogs and employees difficult.

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