SALISBURY, MD. — Perdue Farms recently released its Fiscal Year 2022 Company Stewardship Report highlighting some areas of the company, including food, environment, people and partners. 

The report notes how the company operated during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, working on its commitment to food insecurity, offering consumers new products, advancing its industry-leading animal care commitment, and creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace.

“In the past year, we continued to face some of the toughest challenges in our history – navigating through a global pandemic, inflationary costs, and persistent supply chain issues,” said Randy Day, chief executive officer of Perdue Farms. “Our new reality reinforced the importance of operating in a way that supports the well-being of our associates and consumers who purchase our products, as well as the future of the shared planet we all call home. We are incredibly thankful for our more than 20,000 associates and 10,000 farmer and ranch partners for their continued dedication and service in fulfilling their essential roles to help keep our nation’s families fed." 

Jim Perdue, chairman of Perdue Farms added, “Since our beginning, Perdue Farms has focused on operating responsibly, rooted in our core values of quality, integrity, teamwork and stewardship. This focus has kept us grounded and guides us in making the best decisions for all our stakeholders and the planet as we continue working toward achieving our vision ‘to be the most trusted name in food and agricultural products.’”

Some of the highlights of the report include:

Food: The company added some new products to its portfolio including the Perdue Brand Chicken Plus Chicken Tots and the Perdue BBQ Seasoned Pulled Pork Bites. The Niman Ranch brand also introduced its culinary driven 100% grass fed and finished beef program, which focuses on marbling, tender texture and consistent rich flavor. 

People and Partners: The company said 37 facilities received recognition from the Joint Poultry Industry Safety and Health Council. Perdue was named Forbes’ Best Employer for New Graduates for 2021. In addition, Perdue hosted the annual company-wide “Day of Understanding” in conjunction with its CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion to “encourage tough conversations and bridge cultural divides.”

Environment: The company reported progress toward reaching its 2023 environmental sustainability goals. Perdue Farms reduced solid waste by 11%. The company added that it kept more than 250,000 lbs of Styrofoam out of landfills using Green Cell Foam for packaging and shipping Perdue Farms e-commerce website orders. Panorama Organic Grass-Fed Meats, owned by Perdue Farms, announced it would partner with the National Audubon Society. 

The full report is available at www.responsiblefoodandagriculture.com and in an e-book format.