Sholom Rubashkin Responds to Forward Allegations

Agriprocessors Letter

AGRIPROCESSORS, INC.
Postville, Iowa
WWW.AGRIPROCESSOR.COM

Dear Friends,

Two weeks ago, the Forward published an article in which PETA and a union that was rejected by employees of Agriprocessors make horrific - and false - allegations about labor conditions at our Postville plant. PETA has again failed in its criticism of Agriprocessors and continues to mislead the public. But readers of this article may have questions about Agriprocessors.

I have written this letter and placed information on our website, www.Agriprocessor.com, to help answer these questions.

PETA's extremist political mission is to end the eating of all meat and they have campaigned for government control of how kashrut is administered all over the world. Agriprocessors was the first U.S. company targeted in their campaign. PETA has apparently joined forces with the people who came to Postville to organize a union at Agriprocessors’ plant.

It is unfortunate that this story may mislead people who rely on Agriprocessors for their kosher meat. Our customers deserve to be reassured that Agriprocessors not only meets the highest standards of kashrut but also follows the admonition of the Torah to treat its employees justly.

When PETA originally attacked us, Agriprocessors did not simply ask people to take our word that we treated animals humanely. We asked them to come see how we operated and judge for themselves. People did come to Postville and Agriprocessors was vindicated for its humane treatment of animals. We have the same response to this latest attack: Come see for yourself or visit www.Agriprocessor.com.

Rabbi Asher Zeilingold from St. Paul had the impulse to come to Postville and see for himself when he read the Forward's story. So Sunday, May 28, four days after the article ran, he and a member of his congregation, Dr. Carlos Carbonera, took it upon themselves to make the four-hour drive to Postville, tour our plant and interview our employees. Their reports are posted on our website. Rabbi Nathan Bamberger from the Orthodox Union visited our plant this week.

Before jumping to conclusions based on the attacks of those who would put their personal and political interests before the needs to the congregations who rely on Agriprocessors for properly prepared meat, I would encourage you to find out more about how Agriprocessors treats its employees and the opportunities it provides them.

If you have any questions, please email me at AskSholom@iowabestbeef.com.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Sincerely,

Sholom M. Rubashkin
askSholom@iowabestbeef.com