Victorian agriculture companies hit by coronavirus

A new coronavirus case has been linked to a Melbourne vegetable farm. See what agriculture companies, including at least 14 meat processors, have been hit by the virus since July.

Fourteen meat processors have been hit by coronavirus since July.

FOURTEEN Victorian meat processing plants have been hit by coronavirus since July in Victoria’s “second wave”, with more than 800 cases linked to the sites.

While cases linked to meat processors have slowed since September, the most recent case linked to agriculture was at a vegetable farm just this week.

Here’s what we know.

(Coronavirus cases accurate as of midnight Sunday, October 4)

CORRIGAN PRODUCE FARMS

A single coronavirus case was linked to Corrigan Produce Farms in Clyde North on October 4.

AUSTRALIAN MEAT GROUP

Australian Meat Group in Dandenong South is the latest meat processor to report a new a coronavirus case. It is linked to a total of six cases, with what The Weekly Times understands to be the last active case reported on Monday, September 21. The abattoir had earlier reported two cases at the end of July.

BULLA DAIRY FOODS

Twenty coronavirus cases were linked to Bulla Dairy Foods in Colac in September.

FRESH CHEESE COMPANY

The Department of Health and Human Services revealed it was investigating cases linked to the Fresh Cheese Company in Broadmeadows on September 3. It is unknown how many cases.

BERTOCCHI SMALLGOODS

Bertocchi Smallgoods in Thomastown was the largest coronavirus outbreak among meat processors in Victoria, with a total of 211 cases linked to the site.

SOMERVILLE RETAIL SERVICES

Somerville Retail Services in Tottenham was the second largest outbreak among meat processors in Victoria, with a total of 167 cases linked to the site.

WAGSTAFF ABATTOIR

DHHS revealed on September 3 it was investigating cases linked to the Wagstaff abattoir in Cranbourne. It is unknown how many cases.

HAZELDENE’S CHICKEN FARM

Hazeldene’s Chicken Farm in Bendigo was linked to 37 cases.

POULTRY PALACE

DHHS announced on August 16, it was investigating cases linked to Poultry Palace in Laverton. The number of cases is unknown. According to its website, Poultry Palace sources all its poultry from Hazeldene’s in Bendigo.

G&T CHICKENS

DHHS revealed on August 28, it was investigating cases linked to G&T Chickens in Brooklyn. The number of cases is unknown.

DIAMOND VALLEY PORK

Diamond Valley Pork in Laverton North was labelled as an outbreak on July 24, with a total of 33 cases.

JBS Australia, Brooklyn.

JBS AUSTRALIA (BROOKLYN)

The coronavirus outbreak at JBS Australia’s Brooklyn site had a total of 160 cases.

The first worker tested positive around July 5.

Australian Lamb Company, Colac.

AUSTRALIAN LAMB COMPANY

The Australian Lamb Company in Colac was linked to 88 cases of the virus.

INGHAMS (THOMASTOWN)

There were 34 cases linked to the Inghams Thomastown.

All employees were directed to self-isolate on July 22.

Golden Farms, Geelong.

GOLDEN FARMS

Fifty-five cases were linked to the Golden Farms chicken processing plant in Breakwater, Geelong.

A 51-year-old worker died.

CEDAR MEATS

Cedar Meats in Brooklyn was hit by coronavirus for the second time, with the company notified a worker tested positive to the virus on July 31.

All staff were directed to self-isolate and get tested.

It reopened on August 4 after no community transmission at the site was detected.

The abattoir had only begun processing livestock again on May 28, after it was brought to halt with an outbreak of 111 cases earlier this year.

DON SMALLGOODS

Ten coronavirus cases were linked to Don Smallgoods in Castlemaine.

D’ORSOGNA MEATS

D’Orsogna Meats in Mickleham had two cases.

PACIFIC MEAT SALES

The Weekly Times is aware of at least one case at Pacific Meat Sales in Thomastown around July 5.

DHHS announced on July 6 the abattoir had closed.

Midfield Meats, Warrnambool.

MIDFIELD MEATS

Midfield Meats in Warrnambool shut down as a precaution about July 19, after an inspector who visited the plant and also the Australian Lamb Company tested positive.

The Weekly Times understands more than 1000 Midfield Meats employees were tested, with no positive cases connected to the plant.

The plant is now open.

AUSTRALIAN FOOD GROUP

A worker at the Australian Food Group in Laverton North tested positive for coronavirus on July 8. Australian Food Group made its own decision to shut the abattoir at the time. It is understood no further cases have been linked to the abattoir.

RETAIL FOOD GROUP

The Dairy Country cheese packing plant at Tullamarine, owned by the Retail Food Group, had at least three workers test positive to coronavirus in July.

It reopened on July 29.

LAVERTON COLD STORAGE

Five cases were linked to Laverton Cold Storage in Truganina, which specialises in frozen storage of meat and food products for export or post import.

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