Peanut plant reopened after oneweek closure

Positive coronavirus tests led to halt in processing

PORTALES — A Portales peanut shelling facility has reopened a week after being closed when “several employees” tested positive for COVID-19, a release said.

The Borden plant reopened Monday, according to a release from parent company Severn Peanut Company.

“We had some employees test positive, and with all the recent news involving outbreaks at meat processing facilities, we thought it best to close down and address the issue proactively,” Severn president Dallas Barnes said. “We worked closely with both state and local officials with the New Mexico Department of Health to get our team tested and ensure we follow all the proper protocols. We are grateful for their prompt and professional help. They’ve been great to work with.”

The company has not specified how many employees tested positive but said more than 70 tests were administered, and less than 10% came back positive over a three-week period.

Portales has three active facilities under the Severn umbrella: the peanut shelling facility, the Hampton Farms roasting facility and a seed shelling plant. All of the positive tests were among workers at the peanut shelling plant.

Severn also owns the former Ready Roast plant, and production is scheduled to begin there in a few weeks.

Barnes said in the release some of the employees who tested positive have since completed the required quarantine period.

The release said there is no evidence that COVID-19 was transmitted via food or food packaging.