The Mail-Journal, Volume 27, Number 1, Milford, Kosciusko County, 17 February 1988 — Page 70

PROGRESS EDITION — Wed., February 17,1988

Maple Leaf Farms is top duck producer in the world

Even though Maple Leaf Farms retains its position as the largest producer of duckling in the world, having sold 13,000,000 in 1987, the company about eight months ago initiated a public awareness program to dispel some long-standing misconceptions about duckling for the table. This program includes in-store video tape machines in grocery stores at the point of sale which present facts about nutritional value and ease of preparation.

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This heightened public education program has included five TV newscasts, several radio programs and articles in 40 major magazines as well as syndicated articles in many large newspapers nationwide. Maple Leaf Farms was founded in 1958 on a farm two miles southeast of Milford. The company began producing processed duckling at a rate of 5,400 birds a week. This has increased to 250,000 a week company-wide. Maple Leaf leads the way as the overall duckling industry has grown in the science of breeding, hatching, feeding and growing ducklings for market. The leadership of Maple Leaf in the genetic improvement of

- Yrjpk *<WO "\ iSH >PrL v BWI - rannl ; 'r ; t nm o X EE z fl Chieken with p|/ = '"'''''“V t H Cheese Saueef Bay Seallops f 3 I R 5! j / g R I f>~7 \ ( T \ >■ Ml MSM X Vkw K t 4 J fßi \*' *w" ! ’l ISiijM F f== tdFr ==r:::^*^ — -;r .r~] IF— 4\ !;l F — ■ I Orkatal Vegetable* ialotewrS**** 19, JgJ XL** pl 0 (t» Q Chef-quality you can count on. Maple Leaf Farms, Inc., P.O. Box 308 Milford, IN 46542 (219) (>58*4121

duckling has resulted in a duckling that’s taste will astound the novice duckling eater. The company owns and operates two hatcheries, one in Cromwell and the other in Kansasville, Wis. The two hatcheries are capable of producing 270,000 ducklings per week. The ducklings arrive at the farms weighing two ounces and reach full growth in 49 days with an average weight of 6% pounds. This outstanding growth is the result of excellent care and superior feeding

programs. Os the 47 farms required to grow the ducklings, 13 are owned by Maple Leaf Farms and the other 34 are independent growers. To support its feed requirements, Maple Leaf owns and operates a feed mill in Milford and one in Burlington, Wis. These mills produce over 100,000 tons of feed each year. Maple Leaf Farms not only contributes to increased duckling consumption in the world, but processes chicken as well. In 1975 the company formed an affiliate, Serenade Foods, to produce fully cooked half-duckling portions and a line of gourmet chicken en-

trees. Today the operation produces a complete line of further processed chicken specialties that include two new items, chicken breast with scallops and cheese sauce and chicken breast with oriental vegetables in lobster sauce. New duckling items are now produced also. These include fully cooked half duckling with orange sauce and fresh duck parts, packaged separately as breasts and legs. Maple Leaf Farms operations are not limited to marketing of poultry products. Founded in 1963, North American Feather Company in Grand Rapids, Mich., is known worldwide as a processor and marketer of

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COOKED DUCKLINGS ON THE MOVE -- Workers at Serenade Foods, an affiliate of Maple Leaf Farms, the world’s largest producer of ducklings, are shown as they move fully cooked ducklings to the packaging line at the factory southeast of Milford. This is just one of the delicious duck and chicken entrees produced at this facility. Maple Leaf Farms produces over 13 million ducklings a year.

waterfowl feathers and down. This Maple Leaf Farms affiliate processed and markets over three million pounds of feathers and down each year. Another affiliate company, Eurasia Feather Company, further processes duck feathers and manufactures duckling downfilled comforters, pillows and other products. Because of its total integration of operations, Maple Leaf Farms is able to maintain exceptionally high quality standards through its control of every step in producing, growing, processing and marketing of its products.