Perdue AgriBusiness to build grain facility at Maryland logistics park

Perdue AgriBusiness yesterday announced plans to establish a $30 million organic grain receiving and storage facility at Tradepoint Atlantic near the Port of Baltimore in eastern Baltimore County, Maryland.

The facility also will include grain and oilseed processing/milling capabilities. A division of Perdue Farms, Perdue AgriBusiness sources, purchases and processes agricultural commodities, and produces grains, soybean meal, feed ingredients and edible oils.

The Tradepoint Atlantic industrial and logistics park is ideally located to receive grain and supply customers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, Perdue AgriBusiness officials said in a press release. The park is served by Tradepoint Rail, a 100-mile short line that interchanges with CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway.

"We work directly with local farmers and traders in the United States, Europe, South America and Asia to source organic grain and soybeans," said Perdue AgriBusiness President Dick Willey. "This new complex will be a key part of an integrated supply chain that enables us to increase business and reduce the cost while maintaining the quality of our organic products."

A Tradepoint Atlantic site provides Perdue Agribusiness a strategic advantage by operating a facility in close proximity to a number of rail lines, interstates and a major port, prompting fast and efficient deliveries, state of Maryland officials said.

In addition, the new grain operations will support the continued growth of Perdue Farms' organic poultry production in the region, company officials said.

"By bringing grain and oilseed processing and milling to Tradepoint Atlantic, we continue to diversify our tenant base across a variety of port-related uses," said Tradepoint Atlantic Chief Commercial Officer Kerry Doyle.