Shuttered peanut company begins layoffs

PORTALES, N.M. (KRQE) - Sunland Inc., the Portales nut processor linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak, has laid off 30 employees as it continues its struggle to reopen.

Sunland has been shutdown since September when the outbreak was first traced to the company and its Valencia Peanut Butter made for Trader Joe's. That outbreak sickened 41 people in 20 states.

Sunland has been a key part of the economy in southeastern New Mexico for the last 24 years. It employs about 115 full-time employees and brings in an additional 80 during harvest time.

Sunland spokesperson Katalin Coburn wouldn't say if more layoffs are expected. She says they continue to wait for instruction from the federal Food and Drug Administration about what they need to do to get the plant reopen.

In the meantime Coburn says the remaining workers are implementing changes that Sunland officials think could help get them back open.

"Sunland is doing everything that is possible to reopen," she told KRQE News 13.  "We do realize the impact that the plant has on the community, and we are doing 150 percent every day."