June 22, 2011

Ohio Fresh Eggs plans major expansion

Ohio Fresh Eggs plans to expand the Licking County part of its operation in Hartford and Bennington townships.

The Licking County Commissioners received information from the company and the Ohio Department of Agriculture about plans to expand at least five local Ohio Fresh Eggs sites.

Commissioner Doug Smith noted the Ohio Department of Agriculture documents included a place for the three commissioners to sign.

"I'm actually not going to sign that, because my signature would indicate not only acknowledgment, but tacit approval of what they're doing, and I'm not sure that's a good thing," Smith said.

Ohio Department of Agriculture spokesman Andy Ware said the information is preliminary and Ohio Fresh Eggs will file an official application for expansion, which will include a public comment period.

Ohio Fresh Eggs has had an eventful year, with the most recent news in April, when it agreed to pay a US$625,000 fine to settle dozens of pollution and permit complaints dating back to 2003, when it took over the operation from Buckeye Egg Farm, which frequently had been cited for environmental and safety violations.