SALISBURY, Md. (WBOC/AP)- The family farmhouse of the third-largest chicken producer in the United States has been named a landmark after it was built a century ago.
The two-story home that has been depicted on packaging and delivery trucks of Perdue Farms since 2005 was named to the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties on Monday by Gov. Larry Hogan and local dignitaries.
The farmhouse was built on the outskirts of Salisbury in 1917 by Arthur and Pearl Perdue, who in 1920 started the company as an egg business. Now it operates at a campus across the street from the farmhouse.
Arthur's grandson Jim Perdue is the family's third-generation leader of the company and has been chairman since 1991.
"It's a great honor, there's not that many, and it's great that they honor the farms that really made Maryland the agricultural powerhouse that it is," he said.
Perdue Farms employs more than 20,000 people with $6.5 billion in annual sales.
Regardless of its national recognition, Perdue Farms has a great sense of pride and respect for its roots.
The company, which will turn 100 in the year 2020, is looking forward to carrying on the legacy of its founders.
"We've grown tremendously but the values of the company are unchanged," said Perdue Farms CEO Randy Day. "We're still a family-owned business with the same values, so even though we've gotten big we've remained true to our history."
"We are leaders in many ways: no anti-biotics ever, animal care, organic, and so as long as we listen to the consumer and we're a leader in the industry, I think we'll have a bright future," said Jim Perdue.
Signage Confirming Perdue's induction into the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties (WBOC PHOTO)
