Dec 2, 5:16 PM EST
Kosher meatpacker court OK to reopen Iowa plant

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) -- A bankruptcy court in New York has approved funding that will allow the nation's largest kosher meatpacking plant to reopen.

A court-appointed bankruptcy trustee, Joseph Sarachek, says the court on Monday approved a $2.5 million advance from the First Bank Business Capital of St. Louis. The money will allow Agriprocessors Inc. to resume the processing of its inventory of about 750,000 chickens and hens through Jan. 9.

Sarachek says production at the company's plant in Postville, Iowa, could begin this week.

Agriprocessors has been accused of immigration and child-labor violations. First Bank is owed about $34 million by Agriprocessors and has foreclosed on the company, but without the advance the chickens would likely starve.

Information from: The Gazette, http://www.gazetteonline.com/

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