Knouse Foods Cooperative
food Peach Glen, PA · Private
Knouse Foods Cooperative is undergoing significant operational restructuring with the closure of its Chambersburg plant affecting 150 workers, while simultaneously facing regulatory challenges including EPA fines for 120 pollution law violations. The company is navigating leadership transition with a new CEO appointment amid these operational and compliance pressures.
Knouse Foods Cooperative is a grower-owned fruit processing cooperative comprised of more than 100 family farms, manufacturing canned and bottled apple products—applesauce, juice, cider, pie fillings, and apple butter—under the Musselman's, Lucky Leaf, Apple Time, Lincoln, and Speas Farm brands. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Peach Glen, Pennsylvania, it operates five processing plants across Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Employees
1,500
Mfg Plants
5
All Facilities
6
Activity
7/10
Type
Private
Plant Locations (6 mapped)
0
Recent News
Truck fire at Knouse plant releases chemical - GettysburgTimes.com
Google News · 6/7/2026
Pa. plant to close at year’s end; 98 employees will be out of work, 50 people moving to other facilities - PennLive.com
Google News · 5/6/2026
UPDATE: Local food processor closing Franklin County plant - ABC27
Google News · 5/5/2026
Knouse Foods to close Chambersburg plant, affecting 150 workers - Chambersburg Public Opinion
Google News · 4/29/2026
Adams County farms receive over $1.5 million in grants to strengthen local food supply chain - Gettysburg Connection
Google News · 6/30/2025
EPA fines Adams County company for 120 pollution law violations - WGAL
Google News · 12/14/2022
Knouse Foods names new CEO - The Evening Sun
Google News · 6/20/2017
Hanover-Adams business news Dec. 6 - The Evening Sun
Google News · 12/4/2015
Manufacturing Plants (5)
Paw Paw Processing Plant
Paw Paw, MI
Canned applesauce and apple juice; acquired from Paw Paw Canning Company in 1982; only Knouse plant outside Pennsylvania; SQF certified
Biglerville Processing Plant
Biglerville, PA
Historic plant on the Musselman's original Biglerville site; fruit processing and apple products manufacturing; SQF certified
Chambersburg Processing Plant
Chambersburg, PA
Applesauce and fruit products plant; ~150 employees; announced closure by Dec 31, 2026 as of early 2026 — still operating as of mid-2026
Gardners Processing Plant
Gardners, PA
Applesauce manufacturing in cans and jars; ~175 employees; co-packing operations since 1989; SQF certified
Orrtanna Processing Plant
Orrtanna, PA
Apple processing and fruit products manufacturing; SQF certified
Other Facilities (1)
Peach Glen HQ & Processing Plant
Peach Glen, PA · hq
Corporate headquarters and primary apple processing plant; processes apples, peaches, and cherries; Musselman's and Lucky Leaf brands; SQF certified with organic manufacturing certification