Friedman and Agri Star Promise Big Economic Effect in Postville

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hershey-friedmanAgri Star Meat and Poultry, LLC in Postville is ramping up its beef line. During a Statehouse news conference last week, Hershey Friedman, CEO of Agri Star Meat and Poultry, said production is at 85 to 90 head of cattle per day. That will increase to 150 daily within the next month and 500 head per day over the next year.

Friedman bought the former Agriprocessors plant out of bankruptcy last summer and renamed it Agri Star. Agriprocessors collapsed in the wake of a massive immigration raid.

Friedman said his goal is to expand the plant so that it can process 1,000 head daily within three years. At it’s peak, Agriprocessors processed 500 to 600 head in Postville.

“This is a good day for our employees, our community and Iowa cattle producers,” said Friedman. “There has been a tremendous void in the kosher food market. We are excited to bring high quality beef items to our customers while at the same time helping boost the economy of Postville and all of Iowa.”

“This return to the kosher market is positive for Iowa cattle producers at a time when the market is rebounding,” said Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. “Farmers always benefit when a company with strong business practices, such as Agri Star, chooses to invest in Iowa. This expansion helps Iowa as we regain market as a cattle producer.”

“I know the importance of hard work and treating people with respect and integrity,” Friedman said. “Eight months ago I came to Iowa and started Agri Star Meat and Poultry. I made a commitment to create a quality work place where we could iprovide quality jobs at fair wages while producing quality chicken, turkey, beef and deli products for kosher consumers. It has been a journey, but we have made real progress.”

An additional 125 employees have been hired to fill the immediate need created by the beef operation and more workers will he hired. The company has 560 employees. Low-end production jobs pay $8 to $9 per hour, Friedman said. Wages on the beef line range from $12 to $17.

The plant uses E-Verify, a federal verification system to check credentials of all job applicants.

Since acquiring the plant in August 2009, the company has invested $7.5 million to upgrade and modernize the facility. The Iowa Economic Development Board approved $600,000 from the value-added agricultural component of the Grow Iowa Values Financial Assistance Program last fall. The project was also approved for Enterprise Zone tax benefits.

Postville Mayor Leigh Rekow said the city is still dealing with fallout from Agriprocessors collapse.

He said Friedman has met with him often. Friedman’s goals are shared by the city – worker safety, fair wages, legal workers and a thriving plant producing jobs and a better living in the community.

“We’re pleased that Hershey has accepted the challenge to make Agri Star a world player in the production of kosher meat and poultry,” Rekow said. “We are grateful to have him and his plant in our community. We will survive and get back to where we were and maybe even better.”

{Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}


6 COMMENTS

  1. I wish you the best of luck but while you are at it, Mr. Friedman, being that you are such a nice person, maybe you can help out Sholom Rubashkin a little?

  2. Hershey Friedman, don’t forget to watch your back. The dogs that brought Reb Shalom down are not sleeping. Rest assured they are conspiring to hurt also you and the rest of us.

  3. There a great need in Cleveland Ohio for agri star glatt kosher meat and Poultry to be the quality products purveyor for supermarkets in the cleveland Area( heinen’s supermarket is a company with 2 of its stores in the Jewish neighborhoods but to make a good of it all jews strictly kosher or not have a desire for strictly kosher meat and poultry meats etc.) for many have failed primarily due to very poor quality and poorly trimmed meats and a with inventory not matching demand.to keep even or even think of making some money. I fully realize based on a number of factors keeping 100 percent stocked is not going to happen but there can be a reasonable supply of product to make both sides happy.

  4. I would like to say,Mr H. Friedman that people and includes me are quite satisfied with meat products from Agri Star. May hope is that you continue to improve and continue the very good quality products. G-d willing problems will be easily solved. My question for now is there a slim chance that during Chaggim time there could be a sale of sorts with price reduction 1 or 3 per cent per pound. My father z”l was schectchet for over 40 years in St Louis Missouri and the executive director of Vaad Hoeir of St Louis and I learned that meat business kosher is labor intensive and for that reason among others it will always be expensive and very hard to discount pricing. I would like to hear from you on this matter,thanks.

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