Smithfield Foods to Increase Pork Processing

September 19, 2007 — 

Smithfield Foods will increase pork processing at its Sioux City, Iowa plant.

The additional pork will be bound for China. The plant will begin processing an additional 3,200 hogs per day, beginning this week, and will add about 250 workers. The expansion will help meet contractual commitments with the company's growing business in China.

China does not allow pork produced with ractopamine and it has blocked imports from some U.S. pork plants and issued warnings to others. Smithfield has agreed to supply a Chinese trading company with ractopamine-free products, says Larry Pope, Smithfield chief executive officer. The deal involves 60 million pounds of pork.

Source:
Pork Alert, September 18, 2007
http://www.porkmag.com