Update: Friday, Sept 11, 11:15am
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has issued a statement regarding the reported closing of Delta Peanut’s operation.
In a letter to Jonesboro Right Now, Ayden Duncan, Chief of Communications, wrote “The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is aware of the current challenges faced by Delta Peanut. The Department has fifteen full-time positions that work as peanut graders at the shelling facility in Jonesboro. We have been in contact with farmers and local leadership and are actively looking for ways to assist where possible.”
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Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Delta Peanut has told its members and growers that it will be permanently closing.
The member farmers received a “Delta Update” from Jeremy Baltz Wednesday. Baltz was identified as a board member and grower owner of Delta. He is also listed as a “manager” of Delta on the Delta Peanut corporate filing on the Arkansas Secretary of State website.
According to the update from Baltz, USDA “de-registered” the plant late in the day Tuesday. The reason the plant was “de-registered” wasn’t immediately known. Jonesboro Right Now has asked USDA for additional information. USDA referred JRN to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is awaiting a response.
The update noted that due to “funding issues,” the plant’s operations would be winded down in the near future. It further said that employees were notified of the planned closure.
Chief administrative officer for the City of Jonesboro Brian Richardson told JRN the city received a WARN, or Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, notice regarding the facility’s closure.
“Any time we hear of possible restructuring or facility closures, our number one concern is the well-being of the employees and their families, and we will work closely with the Chamber of Commerce and our industrial partners to find suitable placement,” he said in a statement to JRN.
According to the notice, which was provided to JRN, initial layoffs begin Oct. 10, or within 14 days of that date. One hundred and twenty employees will be affected, the notice said.
That closing date would be in the middle of peanut harvest when farmers need Delta to process and store their crops. Delta is working on a “storage solution” for the peanuts grown during the 2026 season, the update said.
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Delta Peanut contracts with farmers, who then raise the peanuts the facility de-shells and stores. The update said termination and release agreements would be sent out regarding grower contracts, allowing farmers to go elsewhere to warehouse their crop.
The Delta Peanut facility is located at 9605 C.W. Post Road. According to its website, the facility sits on 71 acres in the Craighead Technology Park and shells over 180,000 tons of peanuts when running at maximum capacity.
It stores about 60,000 tons of peanuts in Jonesboro in three warehouses, as well as in partner buying points in Pocahontas and Marianna. Jonesboro Right Now has learned Delta also stores peanuts at a Kennett, MO warehouse.
According to the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, Delta Peanut broke ground on its facility in August 2019. It opened in the summer of 2020.
JRN has reached out to Delta Peanut for comment and will update this story if it is received.
This is a developing story. JRN will provide updates as they are available.
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