Designed to help farmers access local retail markets, such as farmers markets, restaurants, and other retail outlets, this project will help increase agricultural profitability while keeping farmers on their land farming. In a effort to revitalize an age-old industry by replacing a missing piece of necessary infrastructure, energizing and reviving the remaining elements (i.e. local butcher shops and butchers), and providing a missing product, “Local Meat for Local Meals,” this tool will provide farmers greater control over production schedules and costs, quality of end product, and retail price. Additionally, this tool will provide purchasers and consumers greater control over the quality, cut, and availability of local meat. Benefits of this project include increased food safety, support for humane and sustainable livestock production, and increased local dollars circulating within the communities in which they were generated.

A USDA MMPU is a tractor/trailer (in our case it is a 45-foot long Unit) designed to meet USDA specifications which travels to local farms and ranches to process animals. The MMPU then transports the animal carcasses to a cut and wrap facility for further processing. The MMPU is self-contained and is manned with a crew of trained processing personnel, including a USDA inspector. This Unit is based in Pierce County and is anticipated to serve producers in Pierce, King, Kitsap, Thurston, Lewis, and Mason Counties.

The purchase of the MMPU is funded by the Pierce Conservation District and the Unit will be operated by the Puget Sound Meat Producers Cooperative, a non-profit cooperative of local ranchers, farmers, butchers, restaurant owners, and more.

For more information on this project, please visit the Puget Sound Meat Producers Cooperative website at www.psmpc.com.