Diestel Family Ranch has provided initial information about its plans for the Turlock turkey processing plant that was closed by Foster Farms in May. The company, led by fourth-generation co-owner Heidi Diestel, indicated that the number of jobs to be restored at the facility remains uncertain and will depend on how quickly production increases over the next year.
“We plan to begin running the plant in early 2026 and will slowly add volume throughout the year,” Diestel said in an email.
The facility on F Street will produce raw turkey products under the Diestel brand, including ground turkey, burgers, and roasts. The operation will be separate from an adjacent Foster Farms plant that continues to manufacture cooked turkey products such as lunch meat.
Birds for the new Diestel operation will come from its existing farms in Tuolumne County, which include a home ranch northeast of Sonora and other properties near Chinese Camp. Diestel Family Ranch, established in 1949, is known for producing premium turkeys like pasture-raised and organic varieties, as well as more affordable options. Foster Farms, founded in 1939 and a leading seller of conventional poultry in the western United States, declined to comment on Friday regarding the future of the Turlock site. The company continues chicken processing at locations in Livingston—its headquarters—as well as Fresno, Porterville, Oregon, Washington, and several southern states.
Turlock has been a hub for turkey production since around 1910. Foster Farms entered local operations with its acquisition of the Grange Co. plant in 1982 and later took over ConAgra’s Butterball facility nearby in 1999; both plants are located on F Street at Turlock’s southern edge.
Turlock Mayor Amy Bublak expressed hope that many former employees would find work with Diestel: “I was very glad to see Diestel step in,” she said. “This plant matters to Turlock, and having a respected, family-run company commit to reopening it is a win for our community.”
