For the past few decades leading up to 2020, the consolidation in the meat and poultry processing industries was touted as creating the most efficient and resilient method to bring protein for farmers and ranchers to consumers.
Then came COVID.
Small Grants Seed Big Changes for Local Meat Processors
As the pandemic impacts rippled throughout the food system in 2021, the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) was launched 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.