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P.O. Box 42560
1111 Washington ST SE
Olympia, WA 98504-2560
Phone: (360) 902-1800

Local Meat and Poultry Assistance

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What do you need today?

Do you have fowl or poultry?
Keep up to date with the latest news and updates on the current avian influenza outbreak. 

Local Meat and Poultry Assistance

The Regional Markets Program, works to strengthen local meat supply chains by connecting small farms, ranches, and local meat processors to resources that improve capacity and access local markets. 

This work is supported with one-time funding from the Washington State Legislature, which ends in December 2024. 

DON'T MISS OUR:

  •  LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS: The purpose of the Local Food System Infrastructure Grant program is to support local food supply chains and market access for farms, ranches, food processors, and food distributors. Check back for the next round in 2025. 
  • MARKETING TOOLKIT for farmers & ranchers
  • DIRECTORY of meat processors serving small farms
  • Other RESOURCES for meat producers and processors

FEATURED RESOURCE:

  



WSDA Regional Markets Program is partnering with the Good Meat Project to provide Washington meat farmers, ranchers and processors with exclusive access to expert consultants to help with your business. Meet one-on-one with consultants who are experts in meat branding and marketing. During these FREE, 45-minute consultations, producers can ask for advice on topics such as: 
  • Scaling into new markets, holistically
  • Finding the right sales niche
  • Crafting your farm story for target buyers
  • Understanding and drawing on marketing capabilities and limitations
  • Understanding, building, navigating, and optimizing your website, email marketing, social media strategy, online sales and/or ecommerce
  • Bringing your story and brand into your packaging
  • Building brand awareness and navigating Media and PR
This opportunity is available through May 2025. 

 

Who we assist:


  • Small and midsize FARMS & RANCHES selling meat and poultry to Washington consumers and local buyers;

  • Small and midsize MEAT & POULTRY PROCESSORS that Washington farms and ranches depend on;

  • RESOURCE PROVIDERS across Washington helping farmers, ranchers, and meat processors in their communities.


sliced meat beside silver knife


We work to:


  • Help farmers and ranchers navigate opportunities & marketing strategies, as well as regulations for selling farm-raised meats;

  • Help meat processors get answers to their technical, regulatory or other questions;

  • Connect farmers, ranchers, and meat processors to grant & loan opportunities to expand their capacity or enable market access (including the WSDA’s recent Local Meat Processing Capacity Grants);

  • Gather information and explore solutions around common challenges faced by meat processors, including workforce development and waste management needs.

How can we help you?


  • ​I’d like to sign up receive emails about upcoming opportunities, like educational webinars, quarterly meetings, or grant programs.  

  • I’d like to see existing information and resources farmers, ranchers, and meat processors. 



WA Meat Up


WSDA's Regional Market Program also works to encourage cross-sector creativity & collaboration to increase meat supply chain resiliency, through involvement in systems-level efforts like WA Meat Up -- a collaboration among WSDA and Washington State University (WSU).  

WA Meat Up is a hub of information, resources, and networking opportunities for those engaged at all levels of the local meat supply chain in Washington State -- whether they are a farmer, rancher, meat processor, retailer, restaurateur, distributor, researcher, resource provider, regulator, policy maker, or simply a meat eater!