Cargill announced the permanent end of a salt mining operation that has been in operation since the 1800s.

The private organization, Cargill, announced the end of its operations at the Avery salt mines in Avery Island, Louisiana. They had originally planned to halt the operations at the last quarter of 2021 as the lease with the landowner Avery Island Inc. is expiring at around the same time.

While Cargill will no longer produce salt from the mine, there is still a significant amount of work that needs to be done at the facility to safely close the production line, which will likely take until 2024.

A detailed site closure plan has been established outlining work activities. The company is working with employees to offer a variety of support services as they are needed.

"For over 24 years, we have been proud to be part of the Avery Island and New Iberia communities," said Sonya Roberts, president of Cargill's salt business.

"This was a difficult business decision, but ultimately the right one as we considered the future economics of the mine's operation and our production capacity until the end of the year. We'd like to thank Avery Island Inc. for their partnership over those years and thank our hard-working employees who have made the mine successful."

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What happens to the workers?

It is still unclear what will happen to the company's primary labor force.

While employee impacts are still being determined, Roberts notes that the company remains committed to treating employees with dignity and respect in line with Cargill's values, according to Cargill's release.

Salt Mining

A salt mine is a mine from which salt is extracted. The mined salt is usually in the form of halite (commonly known as rock salt) and extracted from evaporite formations. Salt mines are one of the most steady industries that have been functioning since the earliest civilizations.

Avery Island Salt Mines

The mine on Avery Island has been operating since the mid-1800s and was the first rock salt mine in North America. The mine is owned by Avery Island Inc. and has been managed by Cargill since 1997, when it acquired the lease from Akzo-Nobel.

Avery Island is one of three salt mines operated by Cargill. All three mines produce deicing salt used to keep roads safe and clear during the winter months throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Cargill also operates a salt evaporation facility in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, where it expands capacity and increases efficiency. Those facilities are not impacted by this announcement.

Cargill also operates 22 other salt production locations that produce, package, and ship salt for road deicing, food, water softening, agricultural, industrial, and packaged ice control products.

"We are confident we will be able to fulfill our customer obligations and do not expect disruptions to their operations," said Roberts. "Our supply chain is robust, and we remain committed to investing in our other operations while continuing to grow our salt business."

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