Don Miguel Foods announced it will temporarily pause operations at its facility in Orange County, California, and resume production on Monday, May 4. The closure is in response to the further spread of COVID-19 in the area and the impact on the production facility.
Given the design of the facility, the company decided it was the best decision to pause the operations for 14 days to ensure the safety of its approximately 700 employees.
According to Orange County Health Department statistics on coronavirus cases, as of April 20, 1,676 cases of people infected with the virus have been reported in the county and 33 people have died to date.
Don Miguel Foods is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MegaMex Foods Corporation and produces tacos, burritos, chimichangas, and other Mexican prepared foods products for retail and foodservice outlets, the company said.
MegaMex Foods is a joint venture between Herdez Del Fuerte and Hormel Foods Corporation.
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“We are focused on the health and well-being of our team members and it remains our top priority,” said Ryan Gaynor, Don Miguel Foods plant manager. “Our production professionals have been doing an outstanding job, doing their part to help keep food on the tables during this difficult time. I am very proud of them and I know we all look forward to being back together on May 4. In the meantime, we continue to strategically manage our supply chain and am confident we will continue to meet the needs of our customers during this time. We know we play a critical role in ensuring our products are available to consumers, where and when they need them.”
Under its pay program, all Don Miguel Foods employees will continue to receive 100 percent of their base pay and benefits during the 14-day pause in production, the company said.
Also, they have been taking team members’ temperatures, providing masks and additional personal protective equipment and enacted enhanced safety and sanitation protocols and will continue to focus on employee safety.
Recently, Hormel Foods announced that operations at two of its subsidiaries, Rochelle Foods in Illinois, and Alma Foods in Kansas, were halted due to the coronavirus.
At Rochelle’s plant, which employs 800 people, there were 24 cases of coronavirus, while at Alma’s, Hormel Foods reported one case. Both locations will be closed for 14 days.