Perdue AgriBusiness is selling its Accomac, Virginia, rendering plant and another plant in Lewiston, North Carolina to Valley Proteins, a Virginia company that recycles animal byproducts from poultry processors, restaurants and supermarkets. Perdue and Valley Proteins signed a purchase agreement on September 27, and the sale is expected to close in two weeks, said Perdue spokeswoman Julie DeYoung.  The terms of the sale were not disclosed.

“Although our rendering business has been a successful, profitable business for us, our ability to continue growing the business is limited,” DeYoung said, adding Valley Proteins, a leader in the rendering industry, “has a greater ability to help those facilities grow.”

The Accomac facility employs  75 people.  Under the agreement, Valley Proteins will continue operating both facilities and plans to offer employment at the same pay and benefits as workers have now, DeYoung said.  Perdue’s chicken processing facilities will continue to send raw materials to the rendering place, she said, adding, “the two companies will have a long-term relationship.”