PITTSBURG, Texas, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pilgrim's Pride
Corporation (NYSE: PPC) today issued the following statement from President
and Chief Executive Officer J. Clinton Rivers:
"We are extremely disappointed by the EPA's announcement that it has
rejected Texas Governor Rick Perry's request for a partial waiver of the 2008
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The RFS has caused feed ingredient prices to
spiral out of control, inflicting extreme economic damage on food companies,
and ultimately, on consumers, in the form of increased food costs.
"We expect our company's feed-ingredient costs for fiscal 2008 will
increase $900 million from last fiscal year as a result of the U.S.
government's failed ethanol policy. It's apparent that the government intends
to blindly pursue this misguided and destructive policy despite reams of data
demonstrating its negative impact on the environment, food prices, and world
hunger.
"Not only are the 2008 mandates destructive, but the scheduled mandate
next year will again increase another 16.7% from corn, consuming an additional
4.5% or more of the 2009-2010 corn crop than the anticipated 34% of the crop
being consumed this year for ethanol production.
"While we are disappointed by our government's failure to enact a
responsible and comprehensive energy policy that does not pit food against
fuel, we are grateful to Gov. Perry for his leadership on this issue of
national importance."
About Pilgrim's Pride
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation is the largest chicken company in the United
States and Puerto Rico and the second-largest in Mexico. Pilgrim's Pride
employs approximately 53,500 people and operates 36 chicken-processing plants
and 12 prepared-foods facilities. Pilgrim's Pride products are sold to
foodservice, retail and frozen entree customers. The Company's primary
distribution is through retailers, foodservice distributors and restaurants
throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and in the Northern and Central
regions of Mexico. For more information, please visit
http://www.pilgrimspride.com.
Contact:
Ray Atkinson
Director of Corporate Communications
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
(903) 434-1811
ray.atkinson@pilgrimspride.com
.gif)
