Freeman Lumber products. Photo: Freeman Lumber
Freeman Lumber one of the largest employers in Greenfield sent out a release today saying they were suspending operations indefinitely.
The release makes a specific point to say this is not COVID-19 related, instead, they say it is because they can no longer find a customer for their wood chips.
Freeman Lumber will no longer be accepting shipments of logs, essentially meaning that many woodlot owners are now without one of the major purchasurs in the area.
Previously they had sold a lions share of their chips to Northern Pulp which was forced to shut down after not receiving an extension to the Boat Harbour Act.
They had set up a temporary contract with Brooklyn Power to purchase the chips after Northern Pulp closed in January but that facility has the ability to produce more renewable energy in the summer rendering the chips obsolete.
Freeman Lumber President Charlie Freeman said “Last week’s pay to private landowners and woods contractors was just under $1.1 million. Our heart goes out to our suppliers. These hardworking Nova Scotians stand to lose their jobs, homes, businesses and savings. Yet we simply cannot afford to buy their wood while piling chips on the ground.”
The release ended saying “Freeman Lumber is a sixth-generation family-owned business operating, since 1832, Producing over 100 million board feet annually, Freeman Lumber employs over 150 full-time direct employees in state-of-the-art facilities and injects over $1 million into the local economy every week.”
