<ARTICLE>                 5

<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  OF RICA FOODS,  INC. FOR THE QUARTER  ENDED  DECEMBER 31,
1999,  AND  IS  QUALIFIED  IN  ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO  SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>


                                                               

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                      3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                  SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                                       DEC-31-1999
<CASH>                                                               5,185,679
<SECURITIES>                                                            33,752
<RECEIVABLES>                                                       11,482,735
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          (811,645)
<INVENTORY>                                                         14,056,314
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    33,188,465
<PP&E>                                                              48,903,482
<DEPRECIATION>                                                     (10,948,456)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      82,537,209
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                               28,532,957
<BONDS>                                                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                          2,216,071
<COMMON>                                                                12,848
<OTHER-SE>                                                          25,506,047
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        85,537,209
<SALES>                                                             33,116,512
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                    33,116,512
<CGS>                                                               21,126,466
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                       21,126,466
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                     8,506,446
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                             0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                     933,665
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                      3,117,329
<INCOME-TAX>                                                           393,397
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  2,723,931
<DISCONTINUED>                                                               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                              0
<CHANGES>                                                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                                         2,723,931
<EPS-BASIC>                                                             0.24
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             0.24