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Michigan pork plant begins operations

A new pork processing plant started operations Tuesday in southern Michigan.  Clemens Food Group opened their Coldwater, Michigan facility after more than two years of construction.

Michigan Pork Producers CEO Mary Kelpinski tells Brownfield their industry waited a long time for this day.  “We haven’t had a pork processing plant of any size since Thornapple Valley closed in 1998, so this is definitely good news for our industry in Michigan.”

And, Kelpinski says not having to transport all hogs to Indiana, Kentucky, and Iowa saves on transportation costs.  “Not all of the pigs raised in Michigan will go to this plant, but whether they’re going to Coldwater or down to Indiana or some other plant, it certainly will help with demand for pork and help the producer’s bottom line.”

The new Coldwater plant is expected to reach peak production by February of next year handling 10-thousand hogs a day.

Clemens Food Group is based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania and offers brands including Premium Reserve, Hatfield, Red’s, Prima Porta, and Nick’s.  They also offer many products for the restaurants and institutional food services.

The Coldwater Michigan plant is not the only new hog processor going online Tuesday.  The Seaboard Triumph plant opened in Sioux City, Iowa.  They also expect to reach a processing capacity of 10-thousand hogs a day.