COVID-19 hits Washington fruit processing facility, causing temporary shutdown

Vancouver, Washington-based Firestone Pacific Foods, which specializes in frozen fruit, has had dozens of employees test positive for COVID-19, reported the Associated Press.

The facility shut-down May 17 after an employee tested positive. Since, 68 others have tested positive, 87 tested negative with a “few” more still needing to be tested. The facility has 165 employees who come in close contact.

The company said through a statement that it’s planning to resume production May 28. Its farming operation has remained open with safety protocols in place.

Firestone utilizes the “latest technology in freezing, scanning and packing” in processing its frozen fruit, which includes a variety of berries, as well as mangoes and pineapples.