USDA Poultry Processing Farm in Fort Plain, NY

It all started with a Chicken Pot Pie. Mom was a creative and adventurous cook and always came up with new ideas. She is rated a #1 cook by her large family. In 2008 our family Moved from Lancaster County PA to the beautiful area of what is known as the Mohawk Valley, in New York. It is sandwiched between the Adirondack mountains and the Catskill mountains. Dad was motivated to move because of the farming opportunities here. We purchased a 73 acre farm and started milking our 70 cow jersey herd. That was great for us the first year and we loved it. Then the following years two things went against our dairy farming success. One was the milk market went down and the other was our crops didn't yield good due to insufficient weather conditions and lack of an established soil. The next year (2009) Mom started baking. We would go to farmers markets and events on Saturdays with all kinds of delicious pastries. For a while we managed to run a farm and a bakery. Then in 2015, because of customers request for something more wholesome, Mom made a Chicken Pot Pie to go along with our pastries. That was like a spark to a whole new world. To farther perfect the recipe Our family got together to try out our cooking skills and put our taste buds to the test. We used and still use all basic and 100% natural ingredients of chicken, freshest vegetables, milk, flour, and chicken broth, tuned to perfection with just the right amount of seasonings and spices. The chicken Pot Pie exploded with popularity and in no time became our main focus. In 2018 We sold the last of our Dairy herd and turned our attention and time to the Chicken Pies. That same year we started USDA inspection, which was a big step for us. By the end of 2018, besides our retail markets and events, our pies were available in hundreds of stores throughout the north eastern states.

In 2020 the road turned again. Our markets and events shut down due to Covid 19. We now turned our entire attention towards the chicken pies and chicken growing/processing. We renovated part of our empty dairy barn to a USDA slaughtering facility where we processed the chickens that we grew for the pies. The idea was to raise and process high quality meat chickens which would result in a more robust chicken taste in the pies. We had already purchased baby chicks and were growing a few flocks outside on grass. These were ready to process by the time our facility was ready to roll. And We barely had it running before we were getting all kinds of phone calls from small farmers and home-owners with backyard flocks that they wanted processed. So, what had looked like a very uncertain year in the start of 2020 actually ended in a very busy and fruitful year for us. We were also  aware of the increasing demand for pasture raised chicken. This only keeps getting stronger as we American people have been becoming aware of the animal cruelty and environmental conditions in the huge chicken houses where they grow birds for large outfits, like Tyson, Purdue, and other big companies. We decided to offer pasture raised chicken meat along with our chicken pies. A perfect fit, right? To further add value to our chicken processing we started air-chilling the processed birds instead of water chilling. The result was great! Today every bird that we sell has been 100% air chilled. The Air-chilling method only uses fast moving cold air, while the chlorinated water chilled chicken absorbs the cold water and chlorine, adding unwanted weight and giving the meat a soggy, chlorinated taste, versus the nice crispy and natural taste from air-chilled.  The water chilling is so common and is used by a very large percent of slaughtering facilities that most people do not even know the delightful natural taste of air chilled chicken. Learn more about the benefits of air-chilled chicken meat HERE.

Things kept growing and our steps got more confident. In 2021 we built a larger processing facility and upgraded our processing equipment. Morning Star Poultry kept growing and additional family farms were needed to raise pastured chickens. Every one of our farmers knows the necessary steps in growing only the highest quality birds. With the impact of covid 19 there was a food shortage and thankfully we and our farmers were able to help! Through the Nourish New York program we were able to connect and supply chicken to food pantries and hungry people in need.  The thing about Morning Star Poultry and our farmers is this; A close connection of teamwork! Our farmers are on average less than 15 miles from Morning Star Poultry processing facility, quite a few are right here in the neighborhood, and they will help with slaughtering birds brought from their farm if needed. And we want to connect directly with you, as a wholesaler or consumer! If you stop and think about it, there are NO middle men. And this has great results! GREAT SERVICE and LOW PRICE! As of fall in 2022, we processed over 200,000 birds! Many Thanks to our fellow workers and dedicated farmers for their hard work, and to all the customers that that have been true business partners! Being a part of a large community of great people is a blessing indeed! Today We are continuing to grow and connecting with food conscious consumers.

Today's focus Is to take the time to carefully handle and process the chickens that the farmer brought in at 6:30 am. To perfect each and every piece and package of chicken. And to exceed our customers expectations of service and quality chicken and chicken based products, meanwhile maintaining a happy, positive work environment for our valued workers. And connecting our Family owned & operated farmers with food conscious consumers. While we take pride in selling NY state grown & certified & seasonal pasture raised whole chickens, split chickens, chicken pieces, diced chicken and specialty chicken products, our most "Valued" product is still at the core, which goes back to the beginning - The Chicken Pot Pie!