Production was interrupted at the JBS USA pork processing plant in Marshalltown, where the distribution center was damaged, but no injuries were reported.

July 23, 2018

1 Min Read
JBS Marshalltown plant to resume operations Tuesday
The distribution center of the JBS USA pork processing plant in Marshalltown, Iowa, was heavily damaged by an EF-3 tornado July 19.Times-Republican (Marshalltown, Iowa)/Emily Blobaum

Clean-up continues for Iowa communities that were hit by tornadoes late last week, and a damaged pork processing plant plans to be back online this week.

Marshalltown, Pella and Bondurant were each heavily damaged as confirmed tornados swept through central Iowa on July 19.

Production was interrupted at the JBS USA pork processing plant in Marshalltown, where the distribution center was damaged, but no injuries were reported. The processing plant is operational, and a company statement issued late Monday afternoon says “We are fabricating today and will harvest hogs starting tomorrow. Our expectation is to be at 90% to 100% capacity by the end of the week. Any lost volume has and will be covered by production at other JBS USA facilities.”

There are more than 2,200 people employed at the Marshalltown facility. According to media reports from the Times Republican newspaper in Marshalltown, damage to the distribution center caused JBS to declare millions of pounds of pork inedible.

JBS was not the only business hit, and many homes also sustained damage, and JBS stepped up to treat 2,000 Marshalltown residents to a barbecue, grilling and providing free food and drink to those impacted by the tornado. Iowa Select Farms sent more than 30 volunteers to help JBS’s team, as well, as did several members of the executive team, according to media reports. Marshalltown has a population of 27,000.

 

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