A Swanton slaughterhouse that went out of business in January is back open with a new name and owner. Green Mountain Packing, formerly Swanton Packing, opened its doors this week under the ownership of local businessman Rosaire Laroche.
The former owners closed the plant because of a federal ban on the slaughter of lame or injured cattle , called downer cows, and rising costs of workers’ compensation insurance.
Laroche worked with the former owners and other partners to draft a business plan to make the packing company more cost-effective, while at the same time expanding services. He says he’s hired all 25 workers who were laid off when the plant closed.