Company spokesman Dennis Pittman told Meatingplace.com that the layoffs are seasonal. "Hopefully after the first of the year they'll be rehired, as soon as the ham business picks up," he said.

Most of those being laid off — 45 workers — actually volunteered. The rest are employees still working through their probationary period.

Despite the overall economic downturn, Pittman said that the company hadn't seen anything yet that would indicate larger-than-usual seasonal layoffs.

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