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Since
1870
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 Founded
in 1627, the township of Smithfield, Virginia soon became synonymous with
uniquely prepared hams. Pigs brought over by the early colonists were fattened
on a diet of acorns and other nuts before being processed during the cool
days of autumn. The hams were then hand-rubbed with salt, smoked and aged
to perfection. They quickly became America's first quality export, as amber-colored
Smithfield hams appeared on the tables of Royalty throughout Europe.In 1870, P. D. Gwaltney continued the Smithfield tradition by refining the curing and aging processes used by early settlers. Word spread, and in the late 1800's members of the Gwaltney family were producing Smithfield Hams in increasing quantities, but always with an emphasis on consistent quality. This commitment to quality enabled the Gwaltneys to expand their sales volume and diversify their product line. 
Today, Gwaltney is one of the major operating units of Smithfield Foods, Inc. a Fortune 500 Company. Besides our signature hams, we market a wide range of pork products to both the retail and Foodservice industries.  No
success story is complete without mentioning the people involved, and Gwaltney
can point to the experience and dedication of its employees as a major factor.
Virtually our entire workforce are residents of Smithfield, people whose
families have been involved with pork production for over 360 years. From
processing to quality control to delivery, our people and our family have
always worked to supply you with the finest products available. As we prepare
to move into the new millennium, Gwaltney of Smithfield, LTD pledges to
remain a guardian of tradition, and to continue its leadership role in the
pork industry.
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