Friesla Blog
Interested in starting a meat processing business? Whether you’re early in your research, planning to open a new plant, or expanding an existing operation, explore our blog for practical information, real-world guidance, and stories of hardworking Americans who are getting after it.
At Friesla, we’re helping farmers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs build independent meat processing businesses in communities across the country. Explore our resources on starting a meat processing business, the basics of meat processing, USDA inspection requirements, available grants and funding opportunities, and other practical information on building and running a successful operation.
The livestock harvest-to-package process can seem a little mysterious: an animal goes in, boxes of meat come out—but what does this look like inside a…
Read More
Posted September 30, 2026
Brick-and-Mortar, Mobile & Modular Meat Processing Plants: Building Around the Business
When most people think of meat processing plants, they picture a building made of concrete or cinder block, where an animal goes in and meat…
Read More
Posted September 29, 2026
Vineyard Gazette: Friesla Supports Martha’s Vineyard Deer Processing
The Vineyard Gazette recently featured a new initiative from Tick Free MV and the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society aimed at expanding deer processing capacity on…
Read More
Posted September 17, 2026
MV Times: Martha’s Vineyard Expands Local Meat Processing Capacity with Friesla
The Martha’s Vineyard Times recently featured a new initiative from Tick Free MV and the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society to expand local meat processing capacity…
Read More
Posted September 8, 2026
Meat Traceability: A Small Meat Processor’s Guide to Lots, Recalls & Food Safety
“Where does my food come from?” Consumers are asking this question more often, and for independent meat processors, answering it can help tell a powerful…
Read More
Posted July 31, 2026
USDA vs. Custom Exempt Meat Processing: Choosing a Business Model
USDA-inspected and custom-exempt meat processing operate under very different rules, and those rules shape very different business models. Understanding USDA vs. custom-exempt meat processing—both what…
Read More
Posted June 30, 2026
What It Takes to Run a Meat Processing Business
Running a meat processing business is a lot more than just harvesting, processing, and selling meat. It’s a mix of planning, production, problem-solving, and people…
Read More
Posted May 13, 2026
USDA Launches $60M Meat & Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP IV) Grant Funding for Beef Processors
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has officially announced the availability of $60 million in grant funding for meat processors through Phase 4 of…
Read More
Posted May 7, 2026
SBA Manufacturing in America E2G Grant: Requirements, Eligibility & Application Steps
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced up to $50 million in funding through its Manufacturing in America Empower to Grow (E2G) Grant Initiative…
Read More
Posted April 30, 2026
How to Start a Meat Processing Business
Starting a meat processing business takes more than a good idea and demand for local meat. You need to think through your business model, run…
Read More
Posted March 31, 2026
Why Mission, Vision, and Values Matter in a Meat Processing Business
Most people starting a meat processing business begin with equipment, inspection requirements, facility design, and product ideas. Those are critical steps, but the most successful…
Read More
Interested in starting a meat processing business? Whether you’re early in your research, planning to open a new plant, or expanding an existing operation, explore our blog for practical information, real-world guidance, and stories of hardworking Americans who are getting after it.
At Friesla, we’re helping farmers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs build independent meat processing businesses in communities across the country. Explore our resources on starting a meat processing business, the basics of meat processing, USDA inspection requirements, available grants and funding opportunities, and other practical information on building and running a successful operation.
The livestock harvest-to-package process can seem a little mysterious: an animal goes in, boxes of meat come out—but what does this look like inside a…
Posted September 30, 2026
Brick-and-Mortar, Mobile & Modular Meat Processing Plants: Building Around the Business
When most people think of meat processing plants, they picture a building made of concrete or cinder block, where an animal goes in and meat…
Posted September 29, 2026
Vineyard Gazette: Friesla Supports Martha’s Vineyard Deer Processing
The Vineyard Gazette recently featured a new initiative from Tick Free MV and the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society aimed at expanding deer processing capacity on…
Posted September 17, 2026
MV Times: Martha’s Vineyard Expands Local Meat Processing Capacity with Friesla
The Martha’s Vineyard Times recently featured a new initiative from Tick Free MV and the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society to expand local meat processing capacity…
Posted September 8, 2026
Meat Traceability: A Small Meat Processor’s Guide to Lots, Recalls & Food Safety
“Where does my food come from?” Consumers are asking this question more often, and for independent meat processors, answering it can help tell a powerful…
Posted July 31, 2026
USDA vs. Custom Exempt Meat Processing: Choosing a Business Model
USDA-inspected and custom-exempt meat processing operate under very different rules, and those rules shape very different business models. Understanding USDA vs. custom-exempt meat processing—both what…
Posted June 30, 2026
What It Takes to Run a Meat Processing Business
Running a meat processing business is a lot more than just harvesting, processing, and selling meat. It’s a mix of planning, production, problem-solving, and people…
Posted May 13, 2026
USDA Launches $60M Meat & Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP IV) Grant Funding for Beef Processors
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has officially announced the availability of $60 million in grant funding for meat processors through Phase 4 of…
Posted May 7, 2026
SBA Manufacturing in America E2G Grant: Requirements, Eligibility & Application Steps
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced up to $50 million in funding through its Manufacturing in America Empower to Grow (E2G) Grant Initiative…
Posted April 30, 2026
How to Start a Meat Processing Business
Starting a meat processing business takes more than a good idea and demand for local meat. You need to think through your business model, run…
Posted March 31, 2026
Why Mission, Vision, and Values Matter in a Meat Processing Business
Most people starting a meat processing business begin with equipment, inspection requirements, facility design, and product ideas. Those are critical steps, but the most successful…