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  "description": "City and state officials announced Monday that Smithfield Foods will build a new plant in northwestern Sioux Falls, freeing up prime land near downtown.",
  "path": "/fact-brief-smithfield-foods-meatpacking-plant-sioux-falls/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-17T11:00:02.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.sdnewswatch.org",
  "tags": [
    "__this one.__",
    "_Smithfield, T. Denny Sanford team up on new Sioux Falls processing plant_",
    "_Smithfield Foods to build $1B+ plant as century-old site will redevelop_",
    "_Top employers_",
    "_South Dakota News Watch_",
    "_Gigafact_",
    "_Read previous fact briefs_",
    "_best practices policies_",
    "_South Dakota News Watch Tipline_",
    "Share your thoughts on this story",
    "__sdnewswatch.org__",
    "__sign up for an email__"
  ],
  "textContent": "## Yes.\n\nThe Smithfield Foods meat packing plant near downtown Sioux Falls is among the highest-capacity pork producing facilities in the country.\n\nThe plant employs about 3,200 people, which puts it third in the top Sioux Falls employers not accounting for public institutions. It’s Smithfield’s second-largest processing facility and the largest producer of packaged meats in the country, processing about 20,000 hogs each day.\n\nSouth Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken and Smithfield officials announced Feb. 16 that a new plant would be built in northwestern Sioux Falls, freeing up about 120 acres of prime real estate near Falls Park where the current plant sits.\n\nThe new facility will be even larger, with an estimated $1.3 billion price tag on 200 acres.\n\nDenny Sanford is donating $50 million to transition the existing land downtown to community ownership. The plant, which was built in 1909, is also one of the oldest in the country.\n\n _This fact brief responds to conversations such as_ __this one.__\n\n### **Source**\n\nThe Dakota Scout, _Smithfield, T. Denny Sanford team up on new Sioux Falls processing plant_\n\nSmithfield Foods, _Smithfield Foods to build $1B+ plant as century-old site will redevelop_\n\nSioux Falls Development Foundation, _Top employers_\n\n* * *\n\n _South Dakota News Watch_ partners with _Gigafact_ to publish fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.\n\n  * _Read previous fact briefs_.\n  * Read our verification standards and other _best practices policies_.\n  * Submit a question for us to answer on the _South Dakota News Watch Tipline_.\n  * Send questions or feedback to _factbrief@sdnewswatch.org_.\n\n\n\nShare your thoughts on this story\n\n _This story was produced by**South Dakota News Watch** , an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories and donate at ___sdnewswatch.org__ _and_ __sign up for an email__ _to get stories when they're published.**Contact Michael Klinski** at michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org._",
  "title": "Fact brief: Is Smithfield Foods one of the largest meat processing plants?",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-17T11:00:02.000Z"
}