Syrup plant that gave town its identity is closing

CAIRO - The southwest Georgia town of Cairo has been identified with syrup making for more than a century. So much so, that its high school athletic teams are known as the Syrupmakers. There&#39;s even a Syrupmaker Drive. <br> <br> Cairo will lose a large part of its identity in May when the plant that bottles the thick, golden sweetener closes. <br> <br> The Roddenberry family began making syrup in Cairo, located about 300 miles south of Atlanta, in 1889. Over the years, they expanded the products line to include peanut butter, pickles and boiled peanuts. To show its appreciation for the Roddenbery&#39;s generous community contributions, townspeople named the public library and a church annex after the family. <br> <br> Dean Specialty Foods purchased the company about five years ago. The Roddenbery brand name was retained, but restructuring that began almost immediately sent peanut butter production and some pickle-packing to other locations. <br> <br> Dean announced recently that it will move its syrup business to Faison, North Carolina, in early May. <br> <br> The Cairo closing is expected to affect about 50 workers and will mean the loss of a long association with the Roddenberry label. <br> <br> A recent company press release said Dean also is selling its peanut boiling business. <br> <br> Calls to the manager of the Cairo plant and to Dean&#39;s Wisconsin headquarters were not returned.

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