Foster Farms
Foster Farms is a privately held American poultry company and consumer brand specializing in chicken and turkey products.
Last updated October 24, 2026
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Overview
Foster Farms is a privately held American poultry company headquartered in Livingston, California. Founded in 1939 by Max and Verda Foster, the business began as a turkey farm near Modesto and gradually developed an integrated poultry operation encompassing breeding, hatcheries, feed production, ranching, processing, distribution, and branded food products. The company has remained strongly associated with California and the broader West Coast, although it has also operated facilities and distribution activities in other parts of the United States. The Foster family built the company through vertical integration. A feed mill acquired during the 1950s gave the business greater control over an important production input, while the acquisition of the Sunland Poultry processing plant in Livingston in 1959 established the location that later became the company's headquarters and principal operating center. Foster Farms subsequently expanded its poultry-processing footprint through acquisitions and new facilities in California, Oregon, and Washington. Its portfolio broadened from fresh whole birds and cut-up chicken to turkey, deli meats, poultry franks, luncheon meats, corn dogs, eggs, and individually packaged refrigerated products. Leadership passed from the founders to their son Paul Foster in 1969. After Paul's death in 1977, his brother Thomas became president. During the 1980s, Foster Farms benefited from growing consumer demand for poultry as an alternative to red meat, and it became California's largest chicken producer. The period also brought production investments, including new ranch capacity, feed-mill improvements, distribution infrastructure, and expanded processing capability. The brand developed a recognizable advertising presence, including campaigns emphasizing freshness and regional production. In the 1990s, the company moved toward professional management while the Foster family retained board involvement. Robert Fox became president and chief executive in 1992 after George and Tom Foster stepped back from operating roles. Foster Farms expanded through the acquisitions of Lynden Farms, Pederson's Fryer Farms, and turkey and corn-dog assets. By the late 1990s it had become one of the largest West Coast poultry producers and a significant national corn-dog manufacturer. The 2001 acquisition of Zacky Farms' chicken operations further added Southern California production, ranching, hatchery, feed, and distribution capacity. The brand has also used public-facing campaigns to differentiate its products from practices it views as misleading in the industry. Its 2007 "Say No to Plumping" campaign criticized the injection of saltwater or other solutions into raw poultry to increase weight and called for tighter use of the "all natural" label. Foster Farms later promoted animal-welfare certification, becoming in 2013, according to company accounts, the first major U.S. broiler producer to carry the American Humane Association seal. Foster Farms has faced regulatory, labor, food-safety, environmental, and workplace-health controversies. These include a 1998 Clean Water Act guilty plea involving contaminated wastewater, labor disputes in the 1990s and 2000s, a 2013 Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak linked to products from several California facilities, and a major COVID-19 outbreak at the Livingston plant in 2020. The latter led Merced County authorities to order the plant closed after hundreds of reported infections and multiple worker deaths. In 2022, Atlas Holdings acquired Foster Farms. The transaction ended the company's long period of family ownership while preserving Foster Farms as an operating poultry business and consumer-facing brand. Its business remains concentrated in chicken and turkey, with products sold through grocery, club, foodservice, and other retail channels, especially in the Western United States.
History
Foster Farms was established in 1939 when Max and Verda Foster invested in a farm near Modesto, California, initially raising turkeys. Max continued his newspaper career until 1942, when he left it to work full time in the growing agricultural business. The founders soon added chickens and cattle. During the 1950s, the company acquired another farm and a feed mill, helping it control feed production rather than depend entirely on outside suppliers. A decisive step came in 1959, when Foster Farms purchased the Sunland Poultry processing plant in Livingston, California. The company moved its headquarters from Modesto to Livingston in 1960. The plant introduced a more industrial processing model, while the company continued to operate ranches, hatcheries, and feed facilities. In 1969, the founders transferred leadership to their son Paul Foster. After Paul died suddenly in 1977, his brother Thomas became president. Foster Farms expanded substantially during the 1980s. It acquired the property of The Grange Company and Valchris Poultry in 1982, returning the company to turkey production and adding deli products such as bologna, poultry franks, and luncheon meats. It bought Fircrest Farms, described as Oregon's largest poultry producer, in 1987. Further investment followed in California, including a large fryer ranch in Merced, improvements to the Ceres feed mill, and a new Livingston distribution facility. In 1989, Foster Farms acquired a turkey-processing plant in Fresno from Roxford Foods and converted it for chicken processing. The company benefited from increasing American consumption of chicken as consumers sought alternatives to red meat. At the same time, concerns about poultry contamination intensified after a 1987 television report on Salmonella in chicken. Foster Farms responded by opening processing operations to media inspection and defending its food-safety practices. Advertising also became more important during this period; one Foster Farms commercial received a Clio Award in 1988. In 1992, George and Tom Foster relinquished the president and chief executive roles to Robert Fox, although the Foster brothers remained involved through the board. Expansion continued with the acquisition of Lynden Farms in 1994 and Pederson's Fryer Farms in 1997. Foster Farms opened a large processing facility in South Kelso, Washington, in 1998 and acquired assets from Butterball Turkey Company, including a turkey plant and feed mill in Turlock and a hatchery in Fresno. It also purchased Griffith Foods, an Alabama corn-dog producer. By 1999, the company had become a major West Coast poultry producer and a large U.S. corn-dog manufacturer. In 2001, Foster Farms acquired the chicken operations of Zacky Farms in Southern California. The transaction included a Fresno plant, hatchery, feed mill, live-production ranches, and a Los Angeles distribution center, adding approximately 1,500 employees. In 2003, the company introduced Fresh & Easy, a line of individually wrapped, pre-washed boneless chicken breasts and thighs. A new distribution center was built in 2004. Foster Farms became increasingly active in debates over poultry labeling and production practices. Its 2007 “Say No to Plumping” campaign challenged the addition of saltwater, seaweed extract, or chicken stock to raw poultry to increase weight. The campaign argued that products treated in this manner should not be promoted under an “all natural” image. It received a Gold Effie Award in 2010. In 2013, Foster Farms received American Humane Association certification and became, according to the company's account, the first major U.S. broiler producer to display that organization's seal. The company also experienced labor and environmental disputes. Hundreds of employees struck for two weeks in 1997 before reaching a new contract. Foster Poultry Farms pleaded guilty in 1998 to a Clean Water Act violation concerning the discharge of poultry-manure-polluted water into the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge. Employees at the Livingston plant changed union representation during 2003–2006, a process that included a brief strike in 2005. In 2018, a truck carrying approximately 5,000 chickens to the Kelso facility crashed in Washington, prompting animal-welfare protests and a dispute over whether activists could take surviving birds to sanctuaries. Food safety became a major public issue in 2013, when a multidrug-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak was associated with chicken from three California facilities. Illnesses were reported across numerous states, with California accounting for most cases. The USDA issued a public health alert but did not mandate a recall, and the affected plants remained open after corrective actions. In 2015, a PBS Frontline report revisited the outbreak and broader food-safety regulation; Foster Farms disputed aspects of the reporting through legal correspondence. The COVID-19 pandemic created another serious workplace-health crisis. Cases were identified at the Kelso and Fresno operations in April 2020. By August, hundreds of workers at the Livingston plant had tested positive and several had died. Merced County ordered the plant closed on August 26, and state authorities emphasized the company's obligation to comply with public-health orders. In 2022, Atlas Holdings acquired Foster Farms. The company remains an active poultry producer and branded food business, retaining its strongest market identity in the Western United States.
- 2022
Atlas Holdings acquisition
[1]Atlas Holdings acquires Foster Farms from its long-standing family ownership.
- 2020
Livingston plant closed during COVID-19 outbreak
[1]Merced County orders the Livingston facility closed after a major worker outbreak.
- 2013
American Humane certification
[1]Foster Farms receives American Humane certification for its broiler operations.
- 2007
Say No to Plumping campaign begins
[1]The company launches a consumer campaign criticizing solution-injected poultry and related labeling practices.
- 2003
Fresh & Easy line introduced
[1]Foster Farms launches individually packaged, pre-washed boneless chicken products.
- 2001
Zacky Farms chicken operations acquired
[1]The acquisition adds Southern California production, hatchery, feed, ranching, and distribution assets.
- 1998
South Kelso processing facility opens
[1]The company opens a major processing facility in Washington state.
- 1992
Professional executive leadership introduced
[1]Robert Fox becomes president and chief executive as George and Tom Foster leave those operating roles.
- 1987
Fircrest Farms acquired
[1]Foster Farms expands into Oregon through the purchase of Fircrest Farms.
- 1982
Turkey and deli operations expand
[1]The acquisition of The Grange Company and Valchris Poultry supports a return to turkey production and expansion into deli meats.
Products and positioning
A West Coast poultry brand built around fresh chicken and turkey, regional production, vertical integration, and household grocery convenience. Its marketing has emphasized freshness, local or regional sourcing, animal welfare, and opposition to solution-injected poultry marketed as natural.
Fresh poultry · 1939
Fresh chicken
The company's core offering includes whole birds, cut-up chicken, breasts, thighs, wings, and other refrigerated chicken formats. Fresh chicken has traditionally been marketed around regional production, freshness, and household meal preparation.
Poultry · 1939
Turkey
Turkey was the company's original livestock focus and remains part of its portfolio. Foster Farms has sold whole and processed turkey products, supported by turkey-processing and feed assets acquired and developed over its history.
Convenience poultry · 2003
Fresh & Easy
Introduced in 2003, Fresh & Easy consists of individually wrapped, pre-washed boneless, skinless chicken breasts and thighs. The line was designed for convenient refrigerated storage and straightforward preparation.
Processed poultry · 1982
Deli poultry and luncheon meats
Foster Farms expanded into processed deli products during the 1980s, including bologna, poultry franks, and luncheon meats. These products extended the brand from raw poultry into ready-to-eat and ready-to-serve refrigerated foods.
Prepared foods · 1998
Corn dogs
The company entered corn dogs through its acquisition of Griffith Foods in the 1990s. Corn dogs became a significant prepared-food category within the broader Foster Farms portfolio.
Controversies
2021
Cal/OSHA cites Foster Farms over COVID-19 workplace protections
California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health cited Foster Farms for failing to protect workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and imposed penalties totaling $181,500. Cal/OSHA said the company failed to communicate outbreak and employee fatality information effectively and did not promptly report some deaths.
2020
COVID-19 outbreak at Livingston plant
A large outbreak among Livingston workers resulted in hundreds of confirmed infections, multiple deaths, public criticism, and a county-ordered plant closure.
2020
Family sues Foster Farms over fatal van collision
The family of a two-year-old boy filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Foster Farms. According to the mother's lawsuit, the vehicle that struck and killed the child was owned by a branch of Foster Farms and was used to transport employees to work. The article reported that the driver had not been charged with a crime at the time.
2020
Boston Market files broiler price-fixing lawsuit
Boston Market filed a federal lawsuit against poultry companies, alleging that they conspired to manipulate broiler prices from 2008 to 2017 and caused it hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges. The allegations are presented as claims in the lawsuit, not as a court determination.
2018
Truck crash involving chickens
A truck transporting approximately 5,000 chickens to the Kelso processing facility crashed in Washington. Animal-welfare activists sought access to surviving birds, but Foster Farms refused, citing health risks.
2013
Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak
Chicken associated with several California facilities was linked to a multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg. The USDA issued a public health alert but did not require a recall, and the company undertook corrective measures.
1998
Clean Water Act violation
Foster Poultry Farms pleaded guilty in federal court to a Clean Water Act violation involving the discharge of approximately 11 million gallons of water contaminated with chicken manure into the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.
Marketing campaigns
- 2007Say No to Plumping
United States
Foster Farms used video and consumer education to criticize the practice of increasing raw poultry weight by injecting it with saltwater, seaweed extract, or chicken stock. The campaign argued that such products should not benefit from an “all natural” positioning. It received a Gold Effie Award in 2010 and became one of the company's most distinctive public-policy-oriented marketing efforts.
Outcome. The campaign received a Gold Effie Award in 2010 and became one of the company's most distinctive public-policy-oriented marketing efforts.
Brand decisions
2022
Sell the company to Atlas HoldingsM&ABackground
After decades of Foster family ownership, the business entered a new ownership phase.
Action taken
Atlas Holdings acquired Foster Farms.
Aftermath
Foster Farms continued as an active poultry company and consumer brand under private ownership.
2013
Pursue humane-production certificationStrategyBackground
Animal-welfare expectations were becoming more visible in poultry purchasing and food marketing.
Action taken
Foster Farms obtained American Humane Association certification for its broiler production and education and research facility.
Aftermath
The company positioned the certification as evidence of formal animal-welfare standards and became the first major U.S. broiler producer described as carrying the organization's seal.
2007
Challenge poultry plumping practicesStrategyBackground
Foster Farms objected to the use of added solutions to increase poultry weight while retaining an “all natural” marketing image.
Action taken
The company launched the Say No to Plumping education and video campaign and called for tighter labeling standards.
Aftermath
The campaign won a Gold Effie Award in 2010 and reinforced the brand's differentiation around minimally treated fresh poultry.
1959
Acquire Sunland PoultryM&ABackground
The company needed greater processing capacity as its farming operations expanded.
Action taken
Foster Farms purchased the Sunland Poultry processing plant in Livingston, California.
Aftermath
The plant became the company's main operating center, and headquarters moved to Livingston the following year.
Recent events
Reported
Cal/OSHA cites Foster Farms over COVID-19 workplace protections[4]
California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health cited Foster Farms for failing to protect workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and imposed penalties totaling $181,500. Cal/OSHA said the company failed to communicate outbreak and employee fatality information effectively and did not promptly report some deaths.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Boston Market files broiler price-fixing lawsuit[3]
Boston Market filed a federal lawsuit against poultry companies, alleging they conspired to manipulate broiler prices from 2008 to 2017 and caused it hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges. The allegations are presented as claims in the lawsuit, not as a court determination.
Reported
Family sues Foster Farms over fatal van collision[2]
The family of a two-year-old boy sued Foster Farms for wrongful death. The mother's lawsuit says the vehicle that hit and killed the child was owned by a branch of Foster Farms and used to transport employees to work; the driver had not been charged with a crime, according to the article.
Sources4 sources
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