To Our Associates:

June 19 marks Juneteenth, the oldest known commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S. On this day in 1865, Major General Gordon Granger of the Union Army landed in Galveston, Texas, and announced that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved were free.

This is a very important time in our country, however, for many people, this might not be a date that you are familiar with. Recent events continue to bring to light the systemic oppression that the Black community has faced for centuries, which has negatively affected more people than we will ever know. The fact remains that there is still significant work to be done to fight racism and correct inequalities.

We are a company that celebrates diversity of all kinds and, because of the historical importance of Juneteenth, I encourage all associates today to reflect, learn, share, listen, connect, have respectful discussions, and be part of the positive change that this country and world needs.

At Perdue, we want to hear your thoughts, stories, and reflections. We are creating unity boards in our facilities to give our team members a platform to share and be heard, and we will continue to celebrate our diverse workforce through our new “Everyday Heroes” series. We also encourage our associates to send their ideas and stories to our Diversity & Inclusion team.

Only by continuing to bring these issues to the forefront will we be able to drive effective change together.

We are here for you, and we hear you. We remain committed to working together toward the day where opportunity and treatment are equal across the globe. 

Sincerely,

Kathryn Danko
Chief Diversity Officer, Perdue Farms