The world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, Tyson Foods, Inc. is preparing for the start of a second shift at its new case-ready meat plant in Sherman, Texas.

The plant, which began production on February 20, already employs 830 people and later this month will expand the workforce to almost 1,000. Approximately 120 additional workers are currently being hired in anticipation of the start of second shift operations on April 24. Once the plant is in full production next year, it is expected to employ as many as 1,600 staff.

Once fully operational, the Sherman plant will increase Tyson’s case-ready meat production capacity by 30% or an additional six million pounds of product per week.