Agriprocessors

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Agriprocessors is the corporate identity of a slaughterhouse and meat-packaging factory that is in an incorporated area of Postville, Iowa best known as a facility for the glatt kosher processing of cattle, as well as chicken, turkey, duck, lamb and veal.^[1]. It is the largest kosher meatpacking plant in the United States [1].

It was founded by Aaron Rubashkin. Rubashkin is regarded as an innovator in the kosher meat industry, bringing modern industrial methods to what has historically been a small, almost boutique craft^[2]. Two-thirds of its output, however, is non-kosher and is marketed under the brand Iowa Best Beef^[3]. Its kosher products are marketed under the brand names Aaron’s Best and Rubashkins. The current CEO is the founder's son Sholom Rubashkin and another son, Heshy Rubashkin is also active in the organization.

Rubashkin purchased the meat packing facility in 1987.^[4]

Contents 1 History 2 Animal abuse controversy 3 Recent developments 3.1 Pollution 3.2 Federal immigration raid 4 Citations 5 See also

[edit] History

Rubashkin opened the Postville plant in 1987, and represented a major breakthrough in mass-production of kosher meat.^[5]

Rubashkin, a Brooklyn butcher, made plans to take advantage of economic structural changes to bring mass-production and economies of scale to the kosher meat production business. Postville, a town undergoing a major employment crisis would eventually become the site of his plant. In the 20 years since its construction AgriProcessors has had a major impact on the town - with new jobs, and an influx of Jews.^[6] The impact of the plant has often been controversial, including frequent citations for illegal practices, including the knowing recruitment of illegal immigrants and inducing them to work in often dangerous conditions at illegal wages. The plant and the cultural and legal problems surrounding it were the subject of the book Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America.

Rubashkin is regarded as an innovator in the kosher slaughter industry, bringing modern industrial methods to what has historically been a small, almost boutique craft.^[7] The plant currently employs over 800 people.^[8]

The Rubashkin family opened a new processing plant in conjunction with the Oglala Lakota native-American tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Gordon, Nebraska in 2006. The presence of the plant on an Indian reservation provides considerable tax breaks for Rubashkin, while the plant employs some 100 locals. Governor Dave Heineman presented a $505,000 gratuity check to Rubashkin on behalf of the city of Gordon, part of an incentive package that brought the factory to the town.^[9]

[edit] Animal abuse controversy

Agriprocessors was subjected to charges of using inhumane methods of slaughter, propelled by a secret video^[10] released by PETA. PETA ineffectively picketed the Allamakee County District Attorney to start an investigation^[11], something that received more coverage elsewhere than locally.

After the initial controversy, however, audits by competent private firms as well as governmental agencies passed favorably on Agriprocessors' practices. In particular, Temple Grandin toured the facility on June 27, 2006, and by Agriprocessors own statement, she is stated to have approved of everything she saw^[12][13].

In 2000 the book Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America was written about the sometimes uneasy relationship between the plant and the local community.

[edit] Recent developments

[edit] Pollution

On August 31, 2006. Agriprocessors signed a consent decree where they essentially admitted discharging untreated sewage into the Postville system, in violation of Federal and Iowa State law and paid a $600,000 fine for violating waste-water regulations^[14][15][16]

Starting in 2004, city authorities started an investigation against Agriprocessors due to complaints from local residents that they routinely deposited untreated effluence into local rivers in breach of regulations. On August 31, 2006. Agriprocessors signed a consent decree^[17] and paid a $600,000 fine for violating waste-water regulations.^[18]

[edit] Federal immigration raid

On 12 May 2008 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") staged a raid on the plant which was described as the largest in the history of the United States. Federal authorities arrested hundreds of illegal immigrant workers during the raid. ICE spokesman Tim Counts said that "The raid was aimed at seeking evidence of identity theft, stolen Social Security numbers and for people who are in the country illegally" ^[19]. According to the U.S. attorney's office for the Northern District of Iowa, those arrested "include 290 Guatemalans, 93 Mexicans, 2 Israelis and 4 Ukrainians" ^[20]. Sources quoted in the affidavit and application for search warrant alleged the existence of a methamphetamine laboratory at the slaughterhouse, and that employees carried weapons to work. Much was made of these charges in the press. Others noted that the document contained many inconsistencies and self-contradictions, casting doubt on the allegations. Among the many inaccuracies in the document is the identification by the sources of an area to the south of the plant as a production area, which it is not. The plant was operating the day following the raid, lending support to the belief that no drugs or weapons were found in the plant.

The Rubashkin family was reported in the Cedar Rapids Gazette on June 5, 2008, to have denied any criminal activity; Aaron Rubashkin was quoted as saying the he had no idea that "his workers were illegal and that they had produced what appeared to be legitimate work documents". ^[21].

The ICE raid left the company lacking employees. They hired Labor Ready to supply them "with about 150 workers", but these workers stopped working because of alleged safety issues^[22] Jacobson Staffing Company was

[edit] Citations

[edit] See also

• Shechita