Wenger Group has completed its acquisition of Plainville Farms, the largest organic turkey producer east of the Mississippi River, preserving 690 full-time jobs and supporting 93 independent family farms in South Central Pennsylvania. The deal, supported by $6 million in state funding, ensures the continuation of organic turkey production at the facility, which has operated for over 60 years.
- Acquisition Details: Wenger Group finalized purchase of Plainville Farms through its subsidiary Farm Fresh Turkey Products, buying from private equity firm Regent
- Market Position: Plainville Farms is the 10th largest turkey producer in the United States and largest organic producer east of the Mississippi River
- State Support: Pennsylvania backed deal with $5 million loan from Industrial Development Authority and $1 million First grant
The Wenger Group has completed its acquisition of Pennsylvania-based turkey producer Plainville Farms.
The Wenger Group, a food and agricultural products and services company, finalized the purchase through its majority-owned subsidiary, Farm Fresh Turkey Products (FFTP), buying the business from private equity firm Regent. Plainville Farms is the largest producer of organic turkey products east of the Mississippi River and has raised and processed turkey in South Central Pennsylvania for more than 60 years.
The deal preserves 690 full-time positions at the facility, along with contracts for 93 independent family farms and more than 300 vendor and logistics partners, the majority of which are based in Pennsylvania.
Matt Goodson, chief executive of Plainville Farms, said the company had navigated "uncertainty in the markets" and "challenges with avian influenza" in recent years before emerging stronger.
"We've emerged from those days stronger and better through the support of everyone that's gathered here today and the support of the state of Pennsylvania," Goodson said. "Without you, none of this would be possible."
Goodson credited the company's growers, employees and vendor partners for staying with Plainville Farms through recent turbulence.
"It goes without saying, I want to recognize our 93 growers, our over 700 employees and our 300 vendor partners that stuck with us," he said. "The times were not easy." He said the company remains committed to producing all-organic, all-natural turkey products and to growing its footprint "in agriculture and Pennsylvania and beyond to feed the country."
Looking ahead, Goodson said, "The future for Plainville Farms has never been brighter."
Matt Goodson, CEO of Plainville Farms, speaks during an event announcing the Wenger Group's acquisition of the company. Also speaking, and shown in the background, are Rick Siger, Pennsylvania secretary of community and economic development; Robin Fitzpatrick, president of the Adams Economic Alliance; and Russell Redding, Pennsylvania secretary of agriculture.Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said Wenger Group's investment went beyond simply keeping the plant open. "They stepped in to reinvigorate it — not just to sort of stabilize," Redding said. He described lingering uncertainty in the region before the acquisition, saying that as someone who lives in Adams County, he would frequently hear concerns about "where is it headed? What will happen?" from people with business ties to Plainville Farms.
Redding said the Wenger Group's culture made it a natural fit for the deal. "It's not simply a company with a long history of agriculture," he said. "These are folks who believe in the very core of who we are. It's about the family and the farms that are here and invested here."
Commonwealth officials supported the transaction with a financing package for FFTP that includes a $5 million loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority and a $1 million Pennsylvania First grant, coordinated through the governor's BusinessPA team. Rick Siger, secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, said the funding was structured to protect more than just processing jobs.
"Our team sprung into action to work to see how we could help ensure the success, not just of the 690 turkey production jobs, but the livelihoods of these 93 farms," Siger said. "These are jobs that are vital for the regional economy, but really vital for our whole Commonwealth. ... This is a big commitment, and we're so proud to invest alongside you to get it done."
Siger and Redding visited a Plainville Farms grower in Chambersburg this week to mark the deal's completion. Terms of the acquisition, including the purchase price, were not disclosed.
Plainville Farms has experienced several changes of ownership in recent years. It was formerly owned by Hain Celestial as part of its Hain Pure Protein business unit, which also included Empire Kosher and FreeBird. Hain sold Plainville Farms to a Plainville Brands, a Delaware limited liability company that was formed by a group of private investors.
According to the WATTPoultry.com Top Companies Database, Plainville Farms is the 10th largest turkey producer in the United States. In 2025, it produced 240 million pounds of turkey.
