Controversial Chicken Processing Plant Delayed

Sanderson Farms is delaying plans to build a poultry processing plant in Nash County.

Joe Sanderson, CEO of Sanderson Farms, says overproduction in the chicken industry has left the price of chicken low while feed costs are high. And so the company decided to delay building the plant until market conditions can be reevaluated in the Fall. The plant has also drawn controversy from some who allege wastewater from the plant will contaminate local water supplies.

"We understand that, and our environmental people and the state of North Carolina have told us there was no danger of that ever happening."

Sanderson says he feels good about the site and is anxious to get the project back on schedule. It would be the company’s second plant in the state along with one in Kinston.