GREELEY, Colo. – Pilgrim's Pride Corporation will resume export shipments of chicken to Russia on Sept. 4 after the Food Safety Inspection Service finalizes certificates that must accompany the shipments, according to the company.

Four Pilgrim’s Pride processing plants have been approved by Russian trade officials to export product there. They are located in Boaz, Ala.; Russellville, Ala.; Athens, Ga.; and Dallas, Texas. The company expects shipments to Russia to begin loading at U.S. ports on Sept. 4.


"Demand from Russia is very strong,” said Don Jackson, Pilgrim's president and chief executive officer. “We have sold out our entire Russian-approved production for the next 30 days and prices have continued to strengthen. Russia is an important export market for U.S. chicken and the re-opening of the borders will be a significant benefit to our company and industry."

Russian officials signed a formal poultry agreement with the U.S. in July, outlining new processing requirements for domestic chicken to be exported to Russia. Earlier this year, Russia banned all U.S. chicken that had been processed with chlorinated water. According to new requirements approved in July, U.S. poultry companies can replace the chlorinated rinse with cetylpyridinium chloride, peroxyacetic acid or hydrogen peroxide.