<ARTICLE>                 5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  OF RICA FOODS,  INC. FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 1999,
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>


                                         
  <PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS
  <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
  <PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
  <CASH>                                       3,765,705
  <SECURITIES>                                    32,816
  <RECEIVABLES>                                9,470,657
  <ALLOWANCES>                                   796,072
  <INVENTORY>                                 12,848,630
  <CURRENT-ASSETS>                            27,455,650
  <PP&E>                                      40,018,346
  <DEPRECIATION>                              10,127,045
  <TOTAL-ASSETS>                              65,280,203
  <CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       21,244,063
  <BONDS>                                              0
  <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
  <PREFERRED>                                  5,149,125
  <COMMON>                                         7,486
  <OTHER-SE>                                   7,422,696
  <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                65,280,203
  <SALES>                                     89,292,662
  <TOTAL-REVENUES>                            89,292,662
  <CGS>                                       58,045,035
  <TOTAL-COSTS>                               58,045,035
  <OTHER-EXPENSES>                            21,445,064
  <LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
  <INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           2,589,061
  <INCOME-PRETAX>                              7,040,175
  <INCOME-TAX>                                   998,523
  <INCOME-CONTINUING>                          2,613,450
  <DISCONTINUED>                                       0
  <EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
  <CHANGES>                                            0
  <NET-INCOME>                                 2,613,450
  <EPS-BASIC>                                     0.34
  <EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.33