Dozens of workers at Charlottetown's hog processing plant learned Monday the date the facility's doors will close, on March 28.

Employee Shawn Curley said even though workers knew the plant was shutting down, it was still difficult to handle the news.

"I guess the disbelief was still there," he said. "We knew it was coming but when you finally get the word, it took you aback."

The plant employs about 85 people and is owned by National and Organic Food Group Inc., which includes a Quebec company and a few Island farmers.

The plant went into receivership in January when the province called in a loan from its owners. Since then, the province has been operating it.