One of Adams County’s biggest employers is selling its property, leaving the fate of its fruit processing plant in the air.

According to a real estate listing, Knouse Foods’ plant on East Hanover Street in Biglerville and several parcels the company owns are listed for sale for $16.5 million.

In an email sent to PennLive, the fruit processor said it is not closing.

Knouse Foods shared a message originally sent to employees in August explaining the company is selling several parcels of land in Biglerville, and at the recommendation of estate agents is including the manufacturing plant in the listing.

“There remains a heightened demand for land and warehousing in south-central PA, as it represents a key transportation hub in the region,” reads the message.

Knouse Foods is headquartered in Peach Glen near Gettysburg and operates five plants, including one in Peach Glen and one in Michigan. It produces Lucky Leaf and Musselman’s products such as apple butter, apple juice, fruit fillings and sliced and whole apples.

The company said the Biglerville plant is mainly used for co-packing for private label customers.

“Given our numerous parcels of land, along with our warehouse space in Biglerville, we’ve engaged a real estate agency to investigate potential buyers for any of these individual parcels. In doing so, however, the agent has recommended that we show the entire Biglerville site in the listing, given the number of interconnected parcels of land that make up our Biglerville location,” said the message.

As an example, the company said it recently sold a bin pad site in Biglerville.

“It remains to be seen if there will be any interest in any of these parcels, but we are committed to continue to produce our products, serve our customers, and provide continuing employment to all Knouse employees,” the company said.

According to the real estate listing, the 169-acre property includes the Knouse plant and an additional 18 buildings available for reuse on 20 acres. The plant encompasses ten loading docks, drive-In truck access and rail service.

A remaining 138 acres are listed as vacant and zoned industrial, which the listing says is the majority of all industrial zoned land in Biglerville.

The listing also notes the property’s convenience to several regional highways, including Route 30, Interstates 81 and 83 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

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