Local Forest Products Company Expands
August 2, 2019 (Salisbury, MD)—Tom Johnson, President of Eastern Shore Forest Products, today announces the expansion of his company’s shavings business headquartered in Salisbury, MD.
“The decision to expand our Eastern Shore operations is a direct result of the growing demand, both locally and nationally, for our products for both pet bedding as well as high quality poultry bedding. We are most proud to be able to do so in our home state of Maryland” said Johnson.
Currently, the Company owns and operates seven manufacturing facilities located in Maryland, Delaware, Maine and Texas as well as affiliated mills in Virginia and Arkansas. These plants produce a variety of wood-based products ranging from garden mulch to wood shavings and even packaged firewood. Most of the Company’s wood shavings now serve the needs of the poultry industry and animal owners throughout the lower 48 states. With the Salisbury expansion, nationwide shavings production capability will equate to 65,000 truckloads per year. The company currently employs 220 associates.
The expansion will center around the Company’s Salisbury headquarters, which has continuously produced poultry bedding since the early 1980’s. The expansion will include a new wood yard on the Upper Shore which will provide new forest management opportunities for the region.
“In addition to hiring at least 20 new employees, with a multiplier effect of about 80 affiliated jobs, forest landowners will now have increased market opportunities for their pine timber. The mill - powered by a one MW solar array - will produce, package and ship pine shavings to retailers throughout the United States for use as animal bedding. The Company also offers specialized products, packaging, storage and shipping methods developed exclusively to meet the needs of modern poultry production. As antibiotic free poultry production increases, there is a direct correlation to increased need for a high-quality kiln dried litter material. We work closely with poultry integrators to develop customized solutions for their bedding needs” Johnson pointed out.
“This expansion and the addition of 20 new jobs is great news for Maryland and the Eastern Shore and gives our forest products industry a new opportunity for growth,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “National companies like Eastern Shore Forest Products that continue to invest and grow in our state prove that Maryland is truly open for business.”
We really care about the Eastern Shore, its great people and especially the managed forests. We believe that our continuous effort to create new markets for Delmarva produced forest products will go a long way in ensuring that current forests are sustainably managed for future forests. A healthy forest is a healthy Chesapeake Bay – sustainably managing Maryland’s coveted forested resources serves as the critical underpinning of the State’s multi-billion-dollar Bay restoration effort.
The Company is seeking new members to join its family-oriented team, employees, ranging from unskilled laborers to managers, operators, mechanics and millwrights to keep this state-of-the-art facility operating efficiently. We strive to provide an atmosphere where individuals can work each day and enjoy what they do, feel safe, valued, make money and feel a sense of ownership.
The new equipment for the expansion is currently under construction and the plant is scheduled to begin producing increased levels of product in late fall of 2019.
For more information on opportunities at Eastern Shore Forest Products, Inc. email: info@esforest.com or stop by the main office at 3667 Saint Luke’s, Rd, Salisbury, MD, Monday thru Friday between 8:00am and 4:00pm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Tom Johnson Sara Hall
(443) 614-2752 (410) 742-5540
