MEAT & POULTRY BRIEFS

What started in 1959 as a co-operative among local agricultural producers and farms has grown into one of the world's largest pork processors. And on Oct. 16,Farmland Foodswill celebrate its 50th anniversary with a special event at the company's Kansas City, Mo., headquarters. Fifty years ago, Farmland Industries -- owned by 1,700 co-ops representing over 600,000 agricultural producers -- began its foray into the pork business with the purchase of a struggling plant in Denison, Iowa and the launch of the “Farmbest” label. Today's company, a unit of Smithfield Foods, supplies retail, foodservice and international markets. Smithfield purchased Farmland in 2002.

IMC Licensing, Louisville, Ky., said it will begin representingButterball, LLC, the nation's largest turkey processor. Offcials say IMC will "extend the Butterball across a wide range of new categories that help extend the everyday relevance of the brand."  Initial categories may include a range of cooking tools and accessories that make preparation easier and more convenient; food products and ingredients that enhance, are easy to prepare and taste great with Butterball products; and exciting new products containing Butterball turkey that enhance the brand’s connection to healthy lifestyles and great flavor. Butterball is based in Garner, N.C.