Farms.com Home   News

Smithfield Foods Shuts Down Major Pork Processing Facility

Smithfield Foods has announced that its Sioux Falls, South Dakota facility will remain closed until further notice due to an outbreak of COVID-19 among employees.

The plant is one of the largest pork processing facilities in the U.S., representing four to five percent of U.S. pork production.

Smithfield President and CEO Kenneth Sullivan says with a number of shutdowns across the country, the U.S. could be on the brink of a meat shortage.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

How to Capture the $80 Million Ground Pork Opportunity | 2026 Retail Trends

Video: How to Capture the $80 Million Ground Pork Opportunity | 2026 Retail Trends

Meat is having a moment, and ground pork is perfectly positioned to help you capture new category growth.

In this business intelligence deep-dive, National Pork Board experts Bailey Morrell and Rick Smith break down the latest consumer behaviors, retail trends, and an $80 million incremental retail opportunity in ground pork.

Watch to learn how expanding your ground pork offerings, utilizing proper fat-lean ratio labeling, and building a dedicated "grinds set" can attract Gen Z and Millennial shoppers while driving "center of the plate" profitability.

we cover:

• Insights from the 2026 Power of Meat presentation.

• Why ground pork is the "gateway meat" for younger, high-value shoppers.

• How adding just two new ground pork SKUs can drive incremental sales.

• Actionable merchandising strategies, including the right fat-lean ratios for specific recipes.