Northwest Iowa has become the epicenter of the bird flu story that's developed over the last few weeks, with continued culls ordered as more birds -- now more than 20 million -- become exposed to the virus.
Yet, now there's news that the area's livestock sector is getting a shot in the arm, albeit on the pork side. Officials with Seaboard Farms and Triumph Foods announced Thursday they're teaming up to build a pork processing plant in Sioux City, Iowa, capable of processing 3 million hogs each year. The facility will ultimately employ more than 1,000 people, according to a joint statement from Guymon, Oklahoma-based Seaboard and St. Joseph, Missouri-based Triumph. The plant's output will be marketed domestically under the PrairieFresh brand name, with global sales coming under the Seaboard and St. Joe Pork brands.
"When we started inquiring about expanding our business, we recognized the strong commitment and willingness to welcome Triumph Foods and Seaboard Foods to the city. Local leaders have built a business environment poised to bring growth to the region," says Mark Campbell, Triumph Foods CEO in a company statement. "We look forward to the new pork processing facility being part of that growth, and its staff being actively involved in the Sioux City community."