The Humane Society of United States sued yesterday to block Ferndale’s Hudson Valley Foie Gras from getting a $420,000 state grant to help expand its production.
Filed in state Supreme Court, the suit alleges that the state’s use of taxpayer money to underwrite foie gras production violates several state laws.
“New York can certainly find better things to do with the taxpayers’ money than blowing it on $20-a-plate foie gras,” said Jonathan Lovvorn, vice president of Animal Protection Litigation for the Humane Society of the United States.
Hudson Valley Foie Gras, the largest producer in the country, is upgrading its facilities and expanding from 250,000 to 325,000 ducks, said Marcus Henley, who runs the farm.
The company will add 20 jobs, bringing total employment to 159. Empire Development Corp. kicked in the money.
“The lawsuit is baseless,” he said. “The idea is to retain and create jobs. To do that, we have to improve our infrastructure.”
