Crystal Farms Inc. of Chestnut Mountain announced Tuesday the sale of its commercial shell egg production and processing business to Rose Acre Farms, based in Seymour, Ind.

Rose Acre has acquired Crystal Farms’ nearly 2.5 million laying hens as well as the related equipment, facilities and inventory.

Crystal Farms will continue to operate its animal feed business under the name Crystal Farms Mills, according to a press release.

The company is based at 4900 Winder Highway.

Crystal Farms produces eggs for the grocery stores, restaurants and other retail markets.

“Rose Acre Farms is excited to have this opportunity to be able to continue the fine operation that Crystal Farms has been running in Georgia,” said Marcus Rust, executive vice president of Rose Acre Farms, in a press release.

“We look forward to working with all of the farmers that help produce the eggs used in the operation as well as the workers at the plant that process the eggs.”

Rose Acres has a history of more than 125 years in the farming and egg businesses.

Calls to Rose Acres’ Indiana headquarters were referred to the United Egg Producers, a trade organization representing egg farmers across the United States Association President Gene Gregory, who had just learned of the sale, said he didn’t anticipate Rose Acres would make any changes. While not familiar with all the details of the Crystal Farms deal, Gregory said Rose Acres had “kept things pretty well intact” in previous business deals.

“I don’t think there was really any employment changes,” he said.

Rose Acre Farms owns other farms in Georgia, according to a press release.

“While this is not our first farm in Georgia, it is our largest farm in Georgia,” Rust said in a press release. “We have always found Georgia a wonderful place to raise chickens and eggs and look forward to a long involvement with the people of Georgia.”

Established in 1947, Crystal Farms is the largest commercial egg producer in Georgia and is ranked 27th overall in the United States egg industry.