SALISBURY, Md. – Organic feed is crucial to organic meat and poultry production but supplies of organic feed ingredients are tight. To address the supply crunch, Perdue Agribusiness, a unit of Perdue Farms, will invest $30 million in an organic grain receiving and storage facility in eastern Baltimore County.

The facility will operate from Tradepoint Atlantic, a 3,250-acre logistics center that offers a gateway to domestic and foreign markets via access to deep-water berths, railroads and highways.

“We’re on a mission to make organic chicken more accessible to more consumers, but the limiting factor is the availability of organic grain,” said Perdue Farms CEO Randy Day. “Expanding our grain operations at Tradepoint Atlantic and the Port of Baltimore will support the continued growth of our organic poultry production in the region.”

In addition to Perdue’s investment, the Maryland Dept. of Commerce approved a $350,000 grant through Advantage Maryland to assist with project costs. The company also is eligible for various tax credits, including incentives for creating jobs. The new organic grain facility will include grain and oilseed processing and milling capabilities. Perdue Agribusiness expects to create more than 25 new jobs.

“Tradepoint Atlantic at the Port of Baltimore is ideally located to receive grain and supply organic customers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region,” said Dick Willey, president, Perdue AgriBusiness. “We work directly with local farmers and traders in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia to source organic grain and soybeans. 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.”

Perdue’s organic and natural meat production interests include the Niman Ranch, SiouxPreme Packing and Prairie Grove pork businesses — which the company acquired in 2015 — and Coleman Natural Foods, which Perdue Farms acquired in 2011.