West Liberty Foods LLC, an Iowa-based private label manufacturer and foodservice supplier, announced this week that the assets to be acquired from Crystal Lake Farms and Free Ranger will operate under the name Liberty Free Range Poultry LLC. Gerald Lessard has been named president of the new subsidiary. The acquisition is expected to close on or before April 28.
West Liberty Foods announced in February this year that it had entered into an agreement to purchase the assets of Crystal Lake Farms and Free Ranger. That acquisition includes both breeding stock and processing plant assets to allowWest Liberty Foods to produce free range, slow growth chickens.
“This acquisition of Crystal Lake Farms and Free Ranger is another exciting step for West Liberty Foods, said Ed Garrett, CEO for West Liberty Foods, at the time the acquisition was announced. “This expansion of our business will allow us to meet the growing consumer demand for humanely grown pasture, raised poultry.”
As president of Liberty Free Range Poultry, Lessard will oversee the free range breeding, growing, and processing operation. Previously, he served as COO at West Liberty Foods from 2004-2016. Most recently, he has been COO at Salm Partners LLC in Denmark, Wisconsin.
Crystal Lake Farms, based in Decatur, Arkansas, produces all natural pasture-raised chicken products that are certified by the Global Animal Partnership, which means the birds are raised with pasture-centered, animal-welfare-friendly farming practices. The company is also Non-GMO project verified. The company’s Crystal Lake Free Ranger is a slower growing chicken that thrives both inside and outside. The Free Ranger has a direct lineage to certain heritage breeds so it is generally healthier and has a better tolerance for the changing environment, according to company.
Lloyd Peterson founded Crystal Lake Farms in 1939. He developed his own feed and produced what became known as “The Peterson Male.” Peterson died in 2007. His grandson Blake Evans joined the business in 2004 and is now president of Crystal Lake Farms and has continued to raise the Crystal Lake Free Ranger.
