Articles by Andy Hanacek

Case Farms’ automation-driven renovation and expansion of its Winesburg, Ohio, processing plant sends a clear message that the Poultry Plant of the Future is NOW.

West Liberty Foods President Brandon Achen talks with Andy Hanacek about the company’s pandemic experiences and its upcoming plans.

After a multi-year break, growth monster Monogram Foods has returned to the acquisition game and already snapped up two processing plants in six months — including long-time partner Quality Food Processors in Denison, Iowa.

When consumers and students ask questions about the realities of chicken farming, Perdue Farms invites them to educate themselves on group tours at their new Poultry Learning Center facilities on active family farms in its network.

Kay Cornelius and the Panorama Meats team are on the cusp of carving out a prominent place in the beef industry by bringing its message and its grass-finished organic beef to a wider national audience.

Organic agriculture — considered by some to be a niche and/or fad some 30 years ago — continues to grow in the United States, and the sheer number of organic products found in retail and foodservice outlets offers anecdotal evidence.

Happy belated Thanksgiving to all, as unusual as this holiday might have been for many of us. Here in the Hanacek household, we kept it low-key this year. 

As spring rolls into summer, gardeners across North America are beginning to see the fruits of their post-winter labor, as gardens begin to flourish and put on a show. Creating the perfect landscape takes knowledge, planning, a knack for what works best for each individual plant and the ability to adjust when things aren’t quite right.

For most companies, diversification of product mix can be a life-saver when traditional products fall temporarily out of favor. However, adding lines and operational capabilities to fill gaps in a portfolio isn’t something that can be planned and executed overnight.