Pitman Family Farms agrees to purchase Cargill poultry operations in Shenandoah Valley, USA
If the deal is finalized as expected in March 2026, Pitman Family Farms would then take over Cargill’s local operations.
USA – California-based Pitman Family Farms has entered into a purchase agreement with Cargill, setting the stage for a significant ownership change in the Shenandoah Valley’s poultry industry in the US.
The agreement, confirmed by local officials, would see Pitman Family Farms assume control of Cargill’s poultry operations in the region once the transaction is finalized.
Dayton Town Manager Brian Borne confirmed the deal, noting that the transaction is expected to close in March 2026.
Until that time, Cargill will continue to operate its facilities under its own name. If completed as planned, the agreement would transfer local poultry processing and related activities from one of the world’s largest agribusiness companies to a third-generation, family-owned poultry producer headquartered in Sanger, California.
Founded in 1954, Pitman Family Farms operates as a vertically integrated poultry farming and processing business.
The company processes chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese and has built its market position around animal welfare programs, sustainability initiatives, and premium poultry products supplied to both regional and national customers.
The acquisition would represent a geographic expansion for the company, extending its operational footprint into the Mid-Atlantic and strengthening access to East Coast poultry markets.
“Our business, for over 65 years, has developed partnerships that allow us to provide premium poultry at local and national levels. We are proud to offer quality protein sources to all customers,” Pitman Family Farms’ website said in a statement.
The announcement has drawn attention from community members, particularly regarding employment at Cargill’s existing facilities.
Poultry processing is a major employer in the Shenandoah Valley and a critical anchor for the broader agricultural economy, including contract growers, feed manufacturers, and grain suppliers that support poultry production.
Borne said that, to his understanding, all current Cargill employees will be offered an opportunity to continue their employment under Pitman Family Farms once the ownership transition is complete. Maintaining workforce continuity would be a key factor in ensuring stable operations during and after the handover.
Cargill’s poultry operations in Virginia are part of its wider protein portfolio, which spans beef, poultry, and value-added food products globally.
The planned divestment aligns with ongoing restructuring and portfolio management efforts seen across the global protein sector, as large agribusinesses reassess asset allocation and regional focus.
For Pitman Family Farms, the agreement offers an opportunity to scale operations and integrate established infrastructure in a region with strong poultry production capacity.
The Shenandoah Valley benefits from proximity to grain supplies used in poultry feed, particularly corn and soybean meal, as well as access to major consumer markets along the U.S. East Coast.
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