Cooperative Plans to Open $87M Peanut Shelling PlantCooperative Plans to Open $87M Peanut Shelling Plant

Farmer-owned cooperative Coastal Growers LLC is investing $87 million to open a new peanut shelling plant in Atmore, AL, according to a release issued by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday. The project aims to position Atmore as a peanut shelling hub serving southwest Alabama.

“We are excited to be able to announce this project today, to bring peanut shelling to south Alabama, and to bring economic benefit to the hard-working farmers of our state who so desperately need it,” Paul Turner, a lawyer who represents Coastal Growers, said in a statement.

More than 100 full-time jobs are expected to be created as a result of the project. Temporary positions will be added during peak shelling periods. Construction of the more than 400,000-sq-ft facility at the Atmore Industrial Park is expected to last a year.

“The peanuts we have in this area are among the highest quality available, yet we really had no infrastructure for shelling in this area,” said Joe Parker of Coastal Growers in the release. “While we looked at other possibilities in other states, Atmore really did make the best sense for us in the end, and the state was strongly supportive of our efforts the entire time.”

Officials said the opening of the shelling plant may have positive impacts on the Port of Mobile.