Rumors have been flying around that Jimmy Dean Meats was going to move operations into the old Zartic building. But according to company officials and the Polk County Chamber of Commerce, this will not happen. Sara Lee, the parent company of Jimmy Dean confirmed yesterday that they are not moving to Polk County. Eric McDonald, president of the Polk County Chamber of Commerce said in a statement that the aging building is just not food grade. Jimmy Dean had been actively exploring the idea of locating a facility in Polk County, but decided not to make the move. The owner of the old Zartic building, Pierre Foods out of Cincinnati, Ohio offered to give the chamber the property to get it off of their books. However, the chamber decided not to accept citing that the building was not equipped to handle modern food service. McDonald said that the building has reached the end of its usefulness. The property will now likely be torn down.
2010-03-24