Will Pilgrim's Pride Close?

There are questions about the future of Pilgrim’s Pride in Farmerville and El Dorado, Arkansas. Everybody wants to know if the company is going to close. Now plant employees and lawmakers in Louisiana are scrambling to ensure the Farmerville Pilgrim's Pride location remains open.

In Farmerville, chicken's no little business. Pilgrim's Pride in northeast Louisiana processes more than 7 million pounds of chicken weekly. So the next 24 hours are crucial for northeast Louisiana lawmakers and Pilgrim's Pride employees.

Louisiana Senator Mike Walsworth says, "The governor is making a phone call to have a conversation with Mr. Jackson, who is the new president and CEO. Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Strain has already had a conversation with Mr. Jackson.  Stephen Moret has made some phone calls."
Those calls are all in an effort to keep the plant open with no announcement of closure. But those conversations haven't provided the answers they want to hear yet. "I'll be honest. We're a little frustrated there hasn't been any, unlike other announcements like we've been involved in,” said Sen. Walsworth. “There hasn't been anything forthcoming that says we need this, that."
A meeting is scheduled tomorrow at 8 A.M. with plant employees and lawmakers in Farmerville. Definite word on the fate of both the Farmerville and El Dorado is expected at that time.