Arkansas is preparing to lose a major peanut processing operation as another food and beverage facility closure puts local jobs at risk. Delta Peanut in Jonesboro has told growers it is permanently closing, with 120 employees affected by the shutdown.
The farmer-owned company said in September that it would begin winding down operations because of funding issues. A WARN notice provided to local officials said initial layoffs are expected to begin around October 10, 2026, or within roughly two weeks of that date — a difficult time for growers because the shutdown overlaps with peanut harvest.
A major Mid-South peanut facility is winding down
Delta Peanut was created as a farmer-owned operation serving growers across Arkansas and the surrounding region. The Jonesboro facility opened in 2020 and was built to shell, store and market peanuts grown by its members, giving Mid-South farmers a nearby processing option in a crop sector that has expanded beyond its traditional Southeastern base…