Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1513541
SIGNATURE MONTANA | 29 Increased demand for locally produced and processed beef has created a rise in state- and federally-inspected meat market establishments. "ere has always been a push for localized products, at least since 2017," says Jim McCafferty of JMC Consulting in Great Falls, Mont. "When COVID hit, we had a supply chain issue, which was not a shortage of beef but rather a shortage of processed beef." As a result of the shortage of processed beef and some security concerns, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) decided more federally inspected plants were beer than five major ones, explains McCafferty, who worked for USDA for 30 years and now serves as a consultant of regulatory affairs. e agency provided grants and loan guarantees to help new meat processing plants get started. e need for more processing facilities in Montana is one reason Central Montana entrepreneur Nicole Wines of Pray, Mont., decided to get into the business. "ere were only five federally inspected slaughter plants in the state when I started," says Wines, who owns Big Sky Processing Plant near Lewistown, Mont. "at is not enough for the whole state." Wines purchased processing plant trailers from an Alaska business and moved them to the new location across the highway from Eddie's Corner. She then began building the facility to meet State of Montana and USDA codes. "State rules are supposed to be equal to or beer than USDA rules," says McCafferty. "However, the federal government has jurisdiction over all meat products, regardless of licensing." Photo by: Shannon Buckman "ere were only five federally inspected slaughter plants in the state when I started," says Wines, who owns Big Sky Processing Plant near Lewistown, Mont. "at is not enough for the whole state." Big Sky Processing Plant sits at the edge of a wheat field near the heart of Montana; the facility offers USDA-inspected and custom processing services. Photo by: Megan Green Entrepreneur Nicole Wines built a USDA-inspected meat processing plant in central Montana and is in the process of licensing a meat market with a drive-up window nearby. Wines says the USDA licensing process has been a good learning experience.