Meat and Poultry Assistance Program

RESOURCES FOR DIRECT-MARKETING FARMERS & RANCHERS:

• Directory of Meat Processors in Washington serving small, direct-marketing farms.

• Custom Meat Marketing Toolkit -- your potential customers have many points of confusion when purchasing farm-raised meats in quarter, half, or whole "shares."  This print-out helps answer the most common customer questions.

• Custom Meat Record-Keeping Tips -- there are some key pieces of documentation that farmers and ranchers selling livestock or livestock "shares" under the Custom Meat Exemption should keep.  

• WSDA Greenbook Factsheet: Selling Beef, Pork, Lamb, Goat and Other meat [PDF] is a go-to resource that provides an overview of the rules & regulations for selling meat directly to consumers and other buyers in Washington State.

• WSDA Greenbook Fact Sheet: Selling Poultry [PDF]

  • Farmers raising poultry can process and sell their own poultry under one of two licenses from WSDA:

    • WSDA Special Poultry Permit is for farmers selling up to 1,000 birds per year, through direct-to-consumer sales at the farm (only). 

    • WSDA Food Processor License Application is for farmers selling up to 20,000 birds per year through any direct, retail or wholesale channel within Washington State.  (The Food Processor Facility Factsheet provides a guide to facility requirements.)

• WA Meat Up is a collaboration between WSU and WSDA, intended to support small businesses all along the meat value chain in Washington State. 

• The Farm Walks Podcast is created by the Tilth Alliance and WSU Food Systems Program and includes many great interviews with meat producers:

  • Olive Branch Ranch -- discussing halal markets, production and processing

  • Island Grown Farmers Cooperative -- discussing the hard work and dedication that has made the IGFC a successful, farmer-run, meat-processing cooperative.

  • Windy N Ranch -- discussing the "retail-exemption" and their on-farm butcher shop;

  • BCS Livestock  or  Oberge Brothers Beef -- both discussing marketing strategies, choosing between USDA-inspected and custom-exempt processing, and tips for a good relationship with your butcher, either way!

• The Good Meat Project has many great marketing resources for local meat producers.  

RESOURCES FOR MEAT PROCESSORS:

• Becoming a WSDA-licensed Custom Meat Facility -- here are some key tips for the aspiring Custom butcher.

• WA Meat Up is a collaboration between WSU and WSDA, intended to support small businesses along the meat value chain in Washington State.  

• NWMPA (Northwest Meat Processors Association) is a great resource connecting meat processors in the Pacific Northwest.  Some great resources available include:
  • Annual NWMPA convention each March. 
  • Extensive list of meat industry suppliers.

• NMPAN (Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network) website includes written guides and webinars covering topics like planning/building a new facility, running a successful facility, regulations & food safety, mobile slaughtering & processing, coming under USDA inspection, and more. 

  • NMPAN is also offering (FREE) one-on-one technical assistance to meat processors.  Meat processors can sign up with industry specialists to discuss topics ranging from plant design, food safety, workforce development, equipment selection, USDA inspection, and more. 
  • NMPAN moderates a Facebook Group and googlelist serve for small meat processors.  
  • NMPAN publishes a monthly newsletter with current news and opportunities for small meat processors (subscribe at the bottom of the homepag

• May 2018 FSIS Guideline for Determining Whether a Livestock Slaughter or Processing Firm is Exempt from the Inspection Requirements of the Federal Meat Inspection Act [PDF] is a detailed publication from the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service that provides clarity and detail about the rules for using the custom-exemption and retail-exemption.

• The AskFSIS help desk responds quickly to written to inquiries about rules and regulations for inspected or exempt meat operations and facilities.  (If you would prefer, WSDA Regional Marktets staff are happy to submit example questions on your behalf.)

• In order to be eligible for loans and some grants, a written business plan is often needed.  Here are some tips and resources to help you get your business plan on paper.