Smithfield, where ham still rules

There are quite a few antique shops and family restaurants to wander around. The Smithfield Times, with a distinctive sculpture of Benjamin Franklin in front of its building, is the town's own paper.

Despite the acquisition by Shuanghui International, now known as WH Group, local folks feel relieved that the deal has not changed the town's flavor.

At the historic courthouse Bias, the woman on duty, said people had mixed feelings about the deal. On the one hand, some believe that Smithfield Foods, which was born in the town, should not become an overseas company, but others think it's a good thing to broaden the company's business globally.

"It really hasn't changed much. It's still operating very much the same way it was," she said.

Similar feelings were also expressed by visitors at the museum and by Judy Winslow, director of tourism of Smithfield Isle of Wight Convention and Visitors Bureau, who described the acquisition as a "great thing". "We're very excited," Winslow said.

Winslow said she hopes to see more Chinese tourists coming to town. "We'd like them to, we're ready for that," she said, adding that she already has a welcome message translated into Mandarin.

The town, about 30 miles from Williamsburg, gets about 15,000 tourists a year.

"Ham is the No 1 industry in Smithfield. Tourism is No 2," said Winslow.

Contact the author at chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 02/18/2014 page2)