POSTVILLE, IOWA ? Hershey Friedman, the new owner of Postville, Iowa-based Agri Star Meat and Poultry, formerly known as Agriprocessors Inc., said he plans to hire 150 workers as the plant expands its poultry production and restarts its beef line, according to The Associated Press.

On Jan. 29, Mr. Friedman said the plant is expanding its turkey processing, which will require adding a second shift to its poultry line. The plant also plans to restart the plant's beef line in several weeks.


Last fall, the new owners bought the plant out of bankruptcy. The facility previously was the Postville area's dominant employer, but the company collapsed following a huge immigration raid in May 2008.

Once employing approximately 1,000 workers, the plant now employs more than 400.