 Louis H. Rich , purchased the West Liberty plant , a former tomato canning facility , in 1943 , when he decided to expand the operations of the Rock Island Produce Company , located on 9th Street in Rock Island , Illinois . The plant was converted to a poultry , including chickens and turkeys , slaughter facility in 1946 and refocused by Rich 's sons , Norman and Martin , on turkey in 1949 . The plant was first expanded in 1960 . Oscar Mayer acquired the plant , through its purchase of Louis Rich , Inc . , in 1979 and used it for turkey production until selling the plant in 1996 . 
