Farbest Foods, Huntingburg, Ind., began moving dirt in the Vincennes Industrial Park in Vincennes, Ind., for its new turkey processing plant.

The 227,000-square-foot plant will initially employ 360 people, and is expected to begin production in January 2014.

Farbest Foods is one of the largest turkey producers in the United States, shipping about 1 million pounds of raw fresh and frozen turkey products daily to brand name food processors worldwide. After processing and packaging, the branded turkey products go to grocery stores, delis, restaurants, schools and other outlets.

Farbest oversees the growth of its own turkeys—currently more than 10 million per year—and currently produces 1,800 tons of turkey feed each day using locally-grown corn, soybeans and other agricultural products.

In addition to the new processing plant in Vincennes, Farbest will soon begin construction on its second turkey feed mill—JFS Milling—in Bruceville, Ind., located in northern Knox County. The new mill will employ up to 30 people at full running capacity.

Farbest reports it is investing nearly $75 million in the Vincennes plant; a projected $20 million in the Bruceville milling facility; and about $54 million in the creation of 60 new turkey-growing farms. An additional 40 turkey-growing farms will be needed when the company launches a second shift.

“We couldn’t be happier to be making this investment in Vincennes, Knox County and the surrounding region,” says Ted Seger, president. “We look forward to a successful partnership that will benefit your communities, the state of Indiana and customers of Farbest Foods.”