COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa, April 11, 2020 – The Tyson pork-processing plant suspended operations after more than two dozen cases of COVID-19 were confirmed. The plant, 24 miles from Muscatine in southeast Iowa, has 1,400 employees. While the plant is closed, Tyson spokesperson Gary Mickelson said that new safety measures would be put in place: More distance between work stations, outdoor tents for breakrooms, and dividers between work stations. Livestock shipments are being diverted to Waterloo, 110 miles away, Perry, 179 miles away, and other Tyson plants, Mickelson said.
Almanac: Midwest meat processors
Midwest meat-processors
Upper Midwest meat-producing plants supply 46% of the nation’s pork. These are the major plants, their owners, and the percentage that each plant contributes to the national total.
St. Joseph, Missouri (Triumph): 4.2%
Waterloo, Iowa: Triumph (4.2%)
Worthington, Minnesota (JBS): 4.1%
Marshalltown, Iowa (JBS): 4.1%
Beardstown, Illinois: (JBS): 4.1%
Sioux City, Iowa (Triumph-Seaboard), 4%
Ottumwa, Iowa (JBS): 3.9%
Sioux Falls, South Dakoat (Smithfield): 3.8%
Austin, Minnesota (Hormel): 3.7%
Storm Lake, Iowa: (Tyson): 3.4%
Monmouth, Illinois (Smithfield); 2.5%
Milan, Missouri (Smithfield): 2.1%
Fremont, Nebraska (Wholestone): 2.1%
Among dozens of others: Cedar Falls, Iowa (Morrell); Columbus Junction, Iowa (Tyson); Davenport, Iowa (Oscar Mayer); Kalona, Iowa (JBS); Organa, Iowa (Hormel); Ottumwa, Iowa Cargill); Ottumwa, Iowa (Swift); Sheldon, Iowa (Tyson); Sioux City, Iowa (Curly’s); Sioux City, Iowa (Triumph Seaboard); Solon, Iowa (JBS); Thompson, Iowa (Morrell)