 Production under ITGC ownership began in January 1997 . The company faced financial difficulty because the turkey market was oversupplied and prices hit historic lows . While financial projections assumed a price of US $ 1 @.@ 92 per pound for turkey , prices averaged US $ 1 @.@ 46 per pound in 1997 . During this time period , four of the growers left ITGC . Turkey prices eventually rebounded , and the company was bolstered by sales to Sara Lee near the end of 1998 . 
