Foster Farms opens former Pilgrim's plant

Governor Bobby Jindal and Foster Farms CEO Ron Foster received a heroes' welcome Saturday, July 11, as north Louisiana celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the new Foster Farms chicken plant in Farmerville, La.
With the help of the state, Foster Farms purchased the old Pilgrim's Pride facility in March, saving thousands of jobs and avoiding the loss of more than $100 million in state and local tax revenues over the next 10 years.
Foster Farms said that at full capacity, the plant will employ at least 1,100 workers with a corresponding payroll of more than $24 million. Foster Farms has begun extending contracts to Louisiana growers in advance of the plant's opening.