Perdue Farms is preparing to restart grain receiving and oilseed crush operations at its Cofield, North Carolina, facility, with startup activities scheduled to begin Aug. 3.
The company said it has continued work to safely prepare the facility for a return to operations following the completion of feed mill dismantling on June 12.
The restart will take place in phases. Perdue expects oilseed crush operations to return to normal production first, followed by the resumption of grain receiving operations. The phased approach is intended to support a stable return to production while maintaining safe operating conditions.
Perdue said safety has remained its top priority throughout the recovery process. The company said it is focused on providing a safe environment for employees as operations resume in a responsible and reliable manner.
The company also said it has continued working with employees at the Cofield facility as startup plans move forward and expressed appreciation for their patience during the recovery effort. Perdue also acknowledged the support of local leaders, first responders and the surrounding Cofield community.
The investigation into the cause of the Feb. 21 incident at the facility remains ongoing. Perdue said it continues to cooperate with local, state and federal authorities.
Source: Perdue Farms, "Perdue Farms Statements on Incident at Cofield, NC Feed Mill July 14, 2026"