Wisconsin is giving grants to local meat processors. Recently, the Badger State announced a Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Resiliency Grant program that will help pay for facility improvements or expansions. Although most of the meat that we eat comes from a few large processors, grants like this can also benefit consumers.
From Pandemic Panic to High Prices
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the nation’s largest meat processors temporarily shut down. While supply fell, demand rose as some shoppers hoarded everything from toilet paper to T-bone steaks. Today, meat prices remain well above pre-pandemic levels. Whether you blame inflation, corporate greed, or price gouging, you’re probably paying more at the store.
Local meat processors are helping to fill what continues to be high levels of demand. However, these smaller processors sometimes don’t have the money to make expensive investments in equipment. Grinders, mixers, saws, smokers, and freezers come with a cost.
Questioning Assumptions
You’ve probably heard things like “eating local is better”, but have you considered why that’s the case with meat – and why the success of local processors is so important? There are five reasons why locally-processed meat is better than what you can buy from the big corporations that dominate so much of the beef industry.
- Better nutritional value
- Healthier, well-cared for animals
- Sounder agricultural practices
- Greater consumer value
- Lower costs
In this series of articles from Go Natural Education, we’ll consider each question and invite you to decide for yourself whether local meat is better.