U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visited Byron, Georgia, late last week to celebrate the grand opening of Pratt Industries’ new fruit and vegetable box factory, a major investment aimed at strengthening both American manufacturing and agricultural supply chains. The event drew industry leaders, policymakers, and local producers who toured the state-of-the-art facility before the official opening ceremonies.
Secretary Rollins was joined by Anthony Pratt, executive global chairman of Pratt Industries; former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue; Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper; agricultural association representatives; and numerous Georgia farmers. Their presence underscored the factory’s significance to both the packaging sector and the broader agricultural community.
During her remarks, Secretary Rollins highlighted the vital connection between domestic manufacturing and rural prosperity. She stated, “The strength of our communities and the safeguarding of our liberties in this country, and also the engine to greatness.” She went on to emphasize President Trump’s focus on revitalizing American industry, saying, “And not surprisingly to anyone watching or any of you here with us today, President Trump has been very focused on bringing manufacturing back to America. This is why the president and I are so grateful to this wonderful entrepreneur, Mr. Pratt, to his amazing team for being one of the first to commit to invest a lot of money, not only in Georgia, but across the country. So that’s why I wanted to be here to honor him.”
Pratt Industries’ investment in Georgia is expected to support local growers by expanding regional capacity for sustainably produced packaging materials. The new plant will manufacture produce boxes vital to fruit and vegetable producers throughout the Southeast, strengthening supply chain reliability and reducing transportation costs.
Rollins also noted the role of federal policy in facilitating growth in manufacturing and agriculture. She added, “Lots of great things also in the one big beautiful bill, including 100% expensing. That will make a big, big difference here.”
The event marked an important milestone for Georgia agriculture, signaling continued private-sector investment and reinforcing the administration’s commitment to expanding American manufacturing and supporting rural communities.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.