As the pandemic impacts rippled throughout the food system in 2021, the incoming Biden administration launched the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG), offering smaller processing businesses up to $200,000 to become USDA-inspected to equip them to develop and market products in retail stores and restaurants.
The first round of MPIRG grants awarded in 2021 is scheduled to be wrapped up this September, so my fellow Regional Director, Chris Roper, and I have been stopping by grant recipients during our travels to see if our network can provide technical assistance to help them cross the finish line.
Buck Jones, a member of the Cayuse Tribe, one of the three tribes of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is making waves in the world of fisheries with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC). With a history spanning 19 years, Jones, CRITFC’s Salmon Marketing Specialist, has been at the forefront of ensuring the sustainability and prosperity of Tribal commercial fishers and fishing communities.
Maine’s 17,000 who observe the dietary practices in the Quran primarily rely on imported halal-certified beef, lamb, and goat meat because the closest USDA-certified slaughter and processing facility is four states away.
Katheryn Piper and her husband, Hussam AlRawi, want to change that. In 2017, they organized Five Pillars Butchery LLC and converted their barn in Unity, ME to produce halal proteins for direct local consumption under Maine certification.
A small building tucked away in the tiny northern Iowa community of Stacyville, IA is a cornerstone of a revolutionary model of chicken production and processing that connects immigrant farmers and workers with customers seeking delicious, nutritious poultry.
San Luis, Colorado – USDA MPPTA Client Spotlight
Nestled in the heart of San Luis Colorado the oldest town in the state, this dynamic duo is carving up something special. They’re the proud owners of a custom meat business that’s working to take a big leap.
Pinewood, SC, Fairmont, NC – USDA MPPTA Client Spotlight
Meet Jermaine Walker, a determined visionary with dreams as big as the Carolina sky. Jermaine’s working to sow the seeds of a poultry growing, processing, and marketing cooperative.industry.
Meet independent producers and processors from across the country at the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association’s 16th Annual Meeting this December 1-2 at the Embassy Suites in Fort Worth! You won’t want to miss keynote addresses from USDA Undersecretary for Marketing & Regulatory Programs Jenny Moffit, USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux, and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.
The recent PAWC (Professional Agricultural Workers Conference) was a tremendous success, drawing over 500 participants. The MPPTA hosted an added-value reception during the conference, providing an excellent opportunity for networking and collaboration among industry professionals. Additionally, we organized Meat and Poultry Technical Assistance Training, enhancing skills and knowledge within our community.
Flower Hill Institute and Tuskegee University joined MPPTA partner, Farmer’s Outreach Solutions for their 2nd Annual Harvest Ball to connect with southern farmers and ranchers looking to expand their meat and poultry operations.
Anniversaries are always a time to reflect backward and to look forward.
March marks the second anniversary of the official launch of the technical assistance network that USDA established as part of the Biden administration's 2022 commitment to create a more resilient, diverse, and equitable meat and poultry processing system.
When you are dedicated to assisting smaller poultry and meat processors, walking the trade floor at the International Production and Processing Exposition (IPPE) in Atlanta this week was a bit of a scavenger hunt.
Flower Hill Institute is thrilled to unveil a brand-new resource toolkit designed exclusively for poultry producers, whether you’re just starting or are an established producer.