The J.R. Simplot Company will close its potato processing plant in Grand Forks for two weeks, beginning Thursday, April 23, to perform maintenance and cleaning. This routine shutdown was originally scheduled for May 7, but the Company has moved up the date, to align with other efforts in Grand Forks to slow the spread and impact of COVID-19.

“In response to the unfolding impact of COVID-19, we have followed or exceeded recommendations from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and local health organizations in the communities where we operate to maintain this standard. To this point, these efforts have resulted in zero employees at Simplot food facilities to contract the virus,” a release said. This includes the Grand Forks facility where the Company has already instituted health and safety measures, to try and protect its employees, partners and the community. These efforts have included visitor and travel restrictions beginning in mid-March. The company has also required temperature testing of all individuals entering the facility, staggered breaks, implemented enhanced cleaning practices and made masks available for employees and essential visitors.

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in the shutdown of restaurants and other foodservice locations, which has caused a reduced demand for some of the products the company processes at the Grand Forks location, and several other facilities. To help offset the impact of this reduced demand, Simplot is staggering routine shutdowns across all of their facilities more often.

“This allows us to not only better manage our inventory, but provides time for important maintenance and to continue to ensure heightened safety and cleaning procedures at all locations. Because of the recent increase in cases in Grand Forks, we have moved up our scheduled two-week plant shutdown and expect to resume operations in early May,” the company said. “We will continue to monitor this situation and gather information from the CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization.”