Vlasic Farms Consolidates Mushroom Operations

Vlasic Foods International (Cherry Hill, NJ) is planning to phase out production at its Dublin, GA, mushroom farm. The farm will close completely by July 31, 1999. The company is taking this action due to excess capacity in its overall mushroom growing system and because of Vlasic's shift to move more of its mushroom sales to retail markets versus mushrooms sold to food processors. The Dublin facility exclusively supplies mushrooms used in canned foods made by other companies.

The 362 acre Dublin Farm currently employs about 55 people. Workers affected by the closing will be offered severance pay, employment assistance packages, and benefits continuation.

"This difficult decision is in no way a reflection on our workforce or the community because both have done an outstanding job," said Robert Collins, VP/GM of Vlasic Farms. "This is strictly a matter of having excess capacity and a strategic shift to focus on our retail business versus supplying mushrooms to processors."

Vlasic will work with local and state officials to sell the facility to a third party.