Fire at kosher meat processing plant in Iowa shuts down production ahead of High Holidays

A major fire at AgriStar Processing in Postville, Iowa, destroyed at least 75% of the plant, putting over 600 people out of work and threatening kosher meat supply ahead of the High Holidays. OU Kosher warns of reduced availability and potential price increases, as well as risks from unscrupulous actors.

A major fire at AgriStar Processing, one of the largest kosher meat processing plants in the United States, has shut down production ahead of the High Holidays. The fire, which began on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in the facility's laundry room, destroyed at least 75% of the plant and put more than 600 people out of work, according to Postville Fire Chief Jeff Bohr. OU Kosher, the oversight agency, warned that the damage will significantly reduce the supply of kosher beef and chicken in the US, leading to higher prices and potential exploitation by bad actors. The plant, located in Postville, Iowa, has a history of crises, including a 2008 immigration raid and the conviction of former CEO Sholom Rubashkin. Canadian billionaire Hershy Friedman purchased the plant in 2016 to ensure competition in the kosher meat industry. The local Jewish community and the plant's employees face significant economic and communal impact.