NEW KOSHER CHICKEN PLANT IN CALIFORNIA

Ground broken on Tulare site of kosher chicken-processing plant
LUIS HERNANDEZ • Visalia Times

Southern California businessman Hillel Shamam could barely hide his excitement at Wednesday’s Rabbi Raphael Guy Shofar House of David 9-09 groundbreaking for House of David, a kosher chicken-processing plant expected to open in March in Tulare.

“The whole thing is a miracle,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to be part of it.”

Tulare City Manager Darrel Pyle shared Shamam’s excitement.

“I am just absolutely thrilled,” he said.

The plant is expected to create 70 jobs initially and 50 more later. Shamam said all employees will be local, except for a four-person management team and 12 workers who will handle slaughtering duties.

House of David Chicken Plant Groundbreaking 9-09 The 60,000-square-foot plant will process 40,000 chickens daily, all from a local provider.

“This is a great day for the city of Tulare,” said Tulare Mayor Craig Vejvoda. “This is just another example of the private-public relationships Tulare is known for.”

Pyle said Shamam selected Tulare as the location for his plant after learning that Western Pacific Meats plans to open a beef-processing plant in the city.

“He read an article on the meat-packing plant and he said, ‘This is the place where I want to be,’ ” Pyle said.

On Walnut Avenue and just north of U.S. Cold Storage, the plant will bring much needed development to the area.

“The location is perfect,” Pyle said.

Tulare Vice Mayor Phil Vandegrift praised Shamam for his decision to come to Tulare.

“He had a dream and his dream is coming true,” he said. “It’s a testament to never saying ‘no.'”

The plant will use kosher standards. No injured, unhealthy, overgrown or undergrown chicken will be slaughtered, Shamam said.