Pilgrims Pride Rejects Bid to Sell El Dorado Plant

Ralph Cole was a grower for Pilgrims Pride Cole said, “They have shown no consideration for this community, their workers, it puts us in a bad situation.” . He sold his last batch of chickens to pilgrims pride last April. “Words can’t explain how I feel, the stress, the emotions, the things that’s put on our family, every time we come up with a solution Pilgrims stops it.” Before Pilgrims Pride went bankrupt in December of 2008 both city and county officials have been fighting to keep the plant alive. Chamber president Don Wales says at least four bids have been submitted, all have been rejected. But he says they can’t give up, “Never seen growers cut off like that and forced into bankruptcy.” Wales says the most recent offer was submitted by an investor in Pennsylvania. He says Pilgrims Pride officials encouraged him just two weeks ago to make another offer. “When investor told president of company he was making an offer he said I will take it to my board but I do no support it.” We asked why, “Only thing they have ever told us are these assets are not for sale.” We asked pilgrims pride why the offer was rejected. Spokesman Ray Atkinson says, “We have considered all offers but have not found any of them to be the best long term interest for the company. We [Pilgrims Pride] will consider reopening the facility when economic conditions warrant it.” But folks in El Dorado believe that’s not the case. Wales said, “They don’t want any more chickens on the market. These farms have been in families for 75-100 years, real sad situation.” “We want to be growing chickens,” Cole said, “years of work into farms, family land, that’s what we do. I want to hand down to my children but that’s becoming a dream.” El Dorado officials say they will keep trying to buy the plant and won’t stop until it’s back up and running. The poultry plant generates around 150 million dollars a year of economic impact in Union County.