USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue on Tuesday applauded the safe reopening of critical infrastructure meatpacking facilities across the United States. According to a USDA press release, cattle, swine, and broiler sectors, processing facilities are operating more than 95% of their average capacity compared to this time last year. Poultry facilities specifically are operating at 98% of their capacity compared to the same time last year.
“President Trump took decisive action to ensure America’s meatpacking facilities reopen in a safe way to ensure America’s producers and ranchers will be able to bring their product to market,” said Secretary Perdue. “I want to thank the patriotic and heroic meatpacking facility workers, the companies, and the local authorities for quickly getting their operations back up and running, and for providing a great meat selection once again to the millions of Americans who depend on them for food.”
America’s meatpacking facilities are safely resuming operations following President Trump’s Executive Order directing the facilities to implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines specifically created for the meat and poultry sector response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The broiler industry, in conjunction with USDA, CDC, OSHA, and state and local health officials, has been working around the clock to keep employees safe and ensure a safe and stable supply of chicken is available for American consumers.
