GEORGE'S FOODS, LLC

George's Foods, LLC operates a poultry plant at 501 North Liberty Street in Harrisonburg, Virginia, under USDA FSIS establishment number P2186. The federal record lists the plant's activities as poultry slaughter and poultry processing, with poultry as the species slaughtered under inspection. FSIS classifies the establishment in its large size category and places it in slaughter volume category 5.0, the highest volume tier in the directory, well above the smallest category of under 1,000 head per year. The grant of inspection date on file is January 13, 2017. No custom-exempt activity is reported to FSIS.

The plant is associated with George's Inc., whose corporate headquarters is at 402 W. Robinson Ave., Springdale, Arkansas. The company website describes George's as a fourth generation family-owned and operated, vertically integrated poultry company that began with C.L. George and his sons Luther and Gene hauling live birds to Midwest markets from a general store west of Springdale, Arkansas, in the 1920s. The site states the company is among the top ten largest vertically integrated chicken producers in America, employs over 7,000 team members across seven production locations in four states, and manages pullet and breeder farms, hatcheries, and broiler farms. It says it serves national accounts, foodservice distributors, retail customers, and export markets.

The website is corporate and does not describe retail sales, hours, or services at the Harrisonburg location specifically. Search listings show a George's Foods address at 410 Stone Spring Rd in Harrisonburg with a different phone number, which does not match the 501 North Liberty Street address and (540) 433-0760 number on the federal record. Details beyond the federal record and the corporate website are not yet on file.

The federal record reports no custom-exempt activity at this establishment, so it is not listed as a plant that processes an individual owner's animals for personal use. The corporate website describes a contracted grower model instead: George's contracts with family farmer partners for pullet, breeder, and broiler production, supported by field service representatives who visit growers about every two weeks, and it invites those interested in growing opportunities to contact the company. Grower contract terms, pay, housing requirements, and territory are not stated in the sources. Farmers with a small number of birds seeking toll or custom slaughter should note that nothing in the sources indicates this plant takes that kind of work.

GEORGE'S FOODS, LLC operates under a federal grant of inspection, so product from this plant can be sold anywhere in the United States, which matters if you sell online or across a state line. FSIS does not list a custom-exempt activity for this plant.

Nothing in the sources describes a retail counter, on-site sales, bundles, delivery, or online ordering at the Harrisonburg plant. George's products are described as reaching consumers through retail, deli, and foodservice channels rather than direct sales at the plant. The corporate website lists a shopper support line, 800-800-2449, for questions about retail products.

If you are buying a half or quarter animal, the plant is where the animal is processed; the farm sells you the animal. Read how to buy a half cow for the sequence and the math.