Poultry is always on the menu at this company. Perdue Farms is one of the nation's largest producers of chicken and turkey. The company operates live production and processing facilities in about 15 US states through its about 2,200 contracted poultry farmers. It processes and packs more than 3 billion pounds of chicken and turkey a year. The company sells poultry and pork in the US and in 100-plus countries through retail food outlets and to foodservice customers, most of which are located in the eastern half of the US. Begun in 1920 as a chicken farm, Perdue is still family-owned and -operated.