Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 4/15/19


A plant that House of Raeford Farms built in Teachey, N.C., to replace a facility that burned in 2017, is operating and ramping up to capacity, company spokesman Dave Witter confirmed for Meatingplace in an email.

The facility was due to open its doors last summer.

Witter said in the first phase of operation the plant now employs 800 people and processes about 700,000 chickens per week.  “As new poultry houses are built to support the complex, the plant is expected to double the previous processing capacity by the fall of 2020 and employ about 1,200 people,” Witter said.

The 200,000-square-foot plant has “state-of-the-art equipment and advanced technology,” Witter said, including new food safety, preventive maintenance and product tracking systems; advanced security and fire prevention equipment; an expanded and comfortable breakroom for employees; and a completely redesigned wastewater operation that can reuse up to 450,000 gallons of water a day.

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