JUNE 10, 2016 6:43 PM

BY JOHN HOLLAND

The National Provisioner, a magazine that has covered meat packing since 1891, chose Foster Farms as its top company for 2016.

The Processor of the Year award notes Foster Farms’ recent expansion into organic and antibiotic-free poultry, its efforts on food safety and water conservation, and new items such as Sauté Ready frozen chicken.

“Foster Farms’ proactive and successful voyage into a position of true industry leadership over the past two years has made it stand above all others for this prestigious honor,” wrote Andy Hanacek, editor-in-chief of the magazine, based in Troy, Mich.

Max and Verda Foster founded the company west of Waterford in 1939. It now employs about 13,000 people at its headquarters and chicken plant in Livingston, at turkey operations in Turlock, and at several other chicken plants in the West and South.

Foster Farms a year ago launched the organic and antibiotic-free lines for some of its raw chicken and turkey. Organic means the birds are free-range and eat feed grown without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Antibiotic-free avoids the routine use of drugs that might allow the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that affect humans.

Sauté Ready is pre-cut chicken with garlic herb, fajita or Asian flavors. Foster Farms also has a new breakfast item – a turkey link inside a pancake, corn dog-style. They are among 46 new products joining an already wide range of prepared chicken and turkey items.

The National Provisioner noted more than $120 million invested in the plants over the past two years, including upgraded equipment and sanitation. A salmonella outbreak in 2013 was traced to the Livingston plant and two chicken plants in Fresno.

The company also expects a 25 percent drop in water use at its California plants this year compared with 2013.

“It is a great honor for Foster Farms to earn this industry recognition,” said Ron Foster, president and chief executive officer, in a news release.

Read more here: http://www.modbee.com/news/business/agriculture/article83155847.html#storylink=cpy