Press Room

MESSAGE FROM THE HONORABLE DIANNE FEINSTEIN REGARDING FOSTER FARMS’ INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP

6/16/2014
MODESTO, Calif. – United States Senator Dianne Feinstein D-Calif. today issued a video message congratulating Foster Farms on its 75th anniversary. In her remarks, she noted the company’s contributions to the local community, the poultry industry and to the consumer.

“Whether it’s removing unhealthy additives from poultry, collaborating with the USDA or pioneering the idea of locally grown, Foster Farms prioritizes consumers,” said Senator Feinstein in her message.

In regard to food safety, Senator Feinstein went on to say, “I have a willing and cooperative partner in Foster Farms. Currently, the industry-wide prevailing rate of Salmonella is at around 25 percent. In the past year, Foster Farms has worked tirelessly to achieve its goal of less than five percent this year. So it’s my hope that the rest of the industry and USDA follow suit.”

Senator Feinstein serves as chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. She was the first woman president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, first woman mayor of San Francisco, first woman elected senator of California, first woman member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and first woman to chair the Senate Rules and Administration Committee. The following is a full transcript of her message.

FULL TRANSCRIPT
Hello, I’m Diane Feinstein. I’m sorry I can’t be with you in person today, but Senate business keeps me, as you might guess, in Washington. I’d like to take this opportunity to wish Foster Farms a very happy 75th anniversary. When Americans think about California’s economy, Silicon Valley or Hollywood often come to mind. But today, California is the largest agricultural state in our country. As a matter of fact, 90 percent of the almonds in the world are produced in California, and our specialty crops are renowned throughout the world. And Foster Farms, with its strong presence in the Central Valley, is a very large part of this. Over the past 75 years, Foster Farms has grown into a company that employs more than 12,000 people and processes around 700,000 chickens per day – and that’s a lot of chickens. And no matter how big Foster Farms has grown on the national stage, it hasn’t forgotten what’s most important, and that’s caring for the community you call home. I think what really sets Foster Farms apart is that it is a family-owned business. When the economy soured in 2009, Foster Farms gave generously to food banks, especially in hard-hit Stanislaus and Merced Counties.

And whether it’s removing unhealthy additives from poultry, collaborating with the USDA or pioneering the idea of locally grown, Foster Farms prioritizes consumers. I think it’s fair to say that the rise of Salmonella and Campylobacter has become a huge concern in recent nears. Now, as we work to counter this deadly rise, I have had a willing and cooperative partner in Foster Farms. Currently, the industry-wide prevailing rate of Salmonella is at around 25 percent. In the past year, Foster Farms has worked tirelessly to achieve its goal of less than five percent this year. Congratulations. So it’s my hope that the rest of the industry and USDA follow suit. Now that’s not to say the battle is over. The rates of these deadly pathogens remain far too high. But I’m really confident that Foster Farms has the leadership, the acumen, and the care and concern to confront these challenges head on. So, happy 75h anniversary, Foster Farms. I so look forward to working with you. Thank you.