SALISBURY, MD – Perdue Farms has purchased the leased assets of its Draper Valley Farms operation in Washington State.

Perdue acquired Draper Valley Farms and the leases in June 2011 as part of the company's purchase of Coleman Natural Foods. The Draper Valley purchase includes a processing plant in Mount Vernon, a feed mill in Chehalis and several company-operated poultry farms. Perdue did not disclose terms of the sale.

“Purchasing the physical assets of Draper Valley Farms underscores our commitment to supporting and growing our organic and no-antibiotics-ever, free-range business through Draper Valley, and to the continued support of the Draper Valley Farms and Ranger brands in the Northwest,” said Jim Leighton, president, Perdue Foods.

The company said that since acquiring Coleman Natural Foods, Perdue Foods has become the leading producer of USDA-certified organic chicken and of no-antibiotics poultry.

“The purchase of Coleman Natural Foods was a major investment in our future and key to our strategy of elevating our portfolio of brands and products. Coleman Natural is the pioneering company in organic chicken, just as Perdue was the pioneer in branding chicken,” Leighton said. “The purchase of the leased assets is a long-term investment in Draper Valley as Perdue Foods continues to move away from the production-driven model of the majority of the poultry industry. Our future is in focusing on premium products and brands that provide consumers trusted choices.”