Don't Buy Marval

Line illustration of a turkey inside a red circle wearing a badge on its neck; black text above and below the turkey. 

In 1984, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) labor union announced a boycott of the Marval Poultry Company Inc., a major turkey processing plant located in Dayton, Virginia. This was in response to numerous lawsuits involving food quality and labor laws being violated throughout the early 1980s. The company invested in automation, which ultimately led to a 20% loss in employment in favor of increased profits. This was followed by demands for increasing production, resulting in workplace injuries. Roughly 800 of the plant's workers walked off and proceeded to have a six-week strike due to the unbearable working conditions. The strike negatively impacted Marval's image and the company began experiencing financial challenges. The “P-18”, around the turkey’s collar, was an indicator that they were supplied by Marval Poultry Company. Shady Brook Farms, another major turkey processing distributor and competitor of Marvel Poultry Company at the time, supported the boycott.