J. P. Stevens & Co. will close two textile plants.

The Greenville, S.C., company said it will phase out operations at its Martha Baum yarn plant in Rockingham, N.C., and its Appleton plant in Anderson, S.C. The two plants, which produce cotton and cotton-blend yarn, employ a total of 655 employees. Stevens will also consolidate four other plants into two. The company said these plants have been the most directly affected by a surge in imports over the last two years.