SALEM, OREGON — The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) announced 14 state meat processors were awarded a total of $8.6 million to improve the state’s meat processing capacity.

“I want to thank all the applicants and the legislature for making this opportunity a reality,” said Lisa Charpilloz Hanson, ODA director. “This is the second major investment the state is making in meat processing in Oregon. Our beef industry is a significant contributor to the national livestock supply chain, but much of the economic opportunity is lost because the processing is out of the state. The grant program is a strategic move to address limitations in the processing sector. Its aim is to retain value, create jobs, and improve the availability of services for our ranchers and local communities, thereby strengthening the local food system.”

In total, ODA received 43 grant applications requesting $27 million in grant funds that would go toward projects amounting to $82.6 million. These projects would add, upgrade or expand processing facilities in Oregon.

To ensure a wide geographical impact, ODA selected grant recipients from all across the state. ODA projected that the projects collectively would contribute an additional 3.5 million lbs of locally sourced meat from a variety of species to the state annually.

The following businesses were awarded grants:

  • Big Horn Meat (H&K Meats), Jefferson, Ore. ($697,500)
  • Buermann’s Ranch Meats, Burns, Ore. ($697,500)
  • Central Oregon Custom Meats, Redmond, Ore. ($619,522.15)
  • Century Oak Packing, Mt. Angel, Ore. ($439,131.06)
  • Diamond S Meat, Klamath Falls, Ore. ($638,148.33)
  • Follett’s Meat, Hermiston, Ore. ($697,500)
  • Hines Meat, La Grande, Ore. ($697,500)
  • Lake County Meat, Lakeview, Ore. ($697,500)
  • McClendon’s Old Fashioned Meats, Roseburg, Ore. ($692,474.28)
  • Meating Place, Hillsboro, Ore. ($697,500)
  • Montgomery’s Meats, Central Point, Ore. ($538,954.53)
  • Revel Meat Co., Canby, Ore. ($695,907.20)
  • Russell’s Custom Meats & Deli, Canyon City, Ore. ($697,500)

The awarded businesses will either fall under federal inspection or come under the new state inspection program.

In 2020 the state legislature allocated funding to ODA to start an Oregon State Meat Inspection Program, which began inspecting its first licensee in July 2022.