<ARTICLE>                 5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  OF RICA FOODS,  INC. FOR THE QUARTER  ENDED  DECEMBER 31,
1998,  AND  IS  QUALIFIED  IN  ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO  SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

       
                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                       6,010,631
<SECURITIES>                                    40,184
<RECEIVABLES>                               11,283,675
<ALLOWANCES>                                   835,148
<INVENTORY>                                 12,240,035
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            30,039,792
<PP&E>                                      36,963,948
<DEPRECIATION>                               9,062,252
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              66,128,967
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       22,388,097
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                  4,323,025
<COMMON>                                         7,419
<OTHER-SE>                                   8,379,189
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                66,128,967
<SALES>                                     31,651,795
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            31,651,795
<CGS>                                       20,006,822
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               20,006,822
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             6,945,142
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,080,919
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              3,585,093
<INCOME-TAX>                                   338,288
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,634,585
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,634,585
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.20