EYE ON OPERATIONS

Chicken processor Sanderson Farms Inc., Laurel, Miss., reportedly expanded its site selection process for a second North Carolina processing facility. Sanderson had previously identified the Goldsboro, N.C., area but Chief Financial Officer Mike Cockrell told media that officials also are considering locations near Rocky Mount, N.C. Cockrell told the Charlotte (N.C.) News & Observer that Sanderson is looking for approximately 1,000 acres for a $106 million poultry processing plant and a spray field for treated wastewater. In other news, Sanderson said it expects by January to finish building a chicken processing complex in Kinston, N.C.

Chobani Greek yogurt processor Agro Farma Inc., Norwich, N.Y., said it will expand its South Edmeston, N.Y., yogurt plant to increase the facility's storage, wastewater treatment facility, and production capabilities. Officials said Agro Farma will have invested more $100 million and created 200 jobs since acquiring the South Edmeston plant in 2005. They said the expansion should result in 100 more new jobs.

Refrigerated foods processor Rizo Lopez Foods Inc., Riverbank, Calif., purchased a former truck door panel plant in Modesto, Calif., and plans to retrofit the 128,000-square-foot site for food processing by early 2012, according to a report in The Modesto (Calif.) Bee. Rizo Lopez processes refrigerated Don Francisco brand Hispanic cheeses and desserts and plans to keep its 35,000-square-foot Riverbank plant. The company also distributes refrigerated Don Francisco sausage products.