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.
Posted August 8, 2023
Client Story: MTXBeef
MTXBeef started over a COVID-era cocktail and a campfire. It was spring 2020. The pandemic had hit. Nestled in the rolling Texas Hill Country—west of…
Read More
Posted August 1, 2023
Client Story: The Producer Partnership
Think that opening a meat processing plant during a pandemic might be tough? Try starting the first nonprofit, federally-inspected meat processing plant in the United…
Read More
Posted July 20, 2023
Mobile Harvest Units: An Alternative to the Traditional Slaughter Floor
Designing, engineering, permitting, and constructing a new building can be costly and time-consuming. A meat processing plant is no exception, which is why mobile harvest…
Read More
Posted June 16, 2023
Explained: 4 Types of Inspection for Meat Processors
There are many steps to moving a finished animal from pasture or feedlot to steak on a plate. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates…
Read More
Posted June 14, 2023
Q&A Session: USDA Grants & Mobile/Modular Meat Processing Equipment
Two meat processing grant programs are in the spotlight in summer 2023: USDA’s Local Meat Capacity Grant Program (Local MCap) and Indigenous Animals Harvesting and…
Read More
Posted May 15, 2023
HACCP 101: Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance For Meat Processors
When U.S. consumers purchase steaks, ground beef, or a Thanksgiving turkey, they expect it to be safe to eat. Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture…
Read More
Posted April 10, 2023
Client Story: Five Marys Ranch
Brian and Mary Heffernan knew that starting a meat processing business would be challenging. “Nothing is easy,” Brian quips. “If it were, everyone would do…
Read More
Posted March 13, 2023
Q&A Session: Mobile Harvest Units & Small Processing Plants
Wondering how to start and operate a small meat processing plant or Mobile Harvest Unit? Learn straight from the source. Hear about the background, operations,…
Read More
Posted February 6, 2023
Client Story: Bear Mountain Beef
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mac and Celsie Sussex—owners of Bear Mountain Beef in Hawk Springs, Wyoming—faced both a problem and an opportunity.…
Read More
Posted January 2, 2023
Why America Needs to Restore Local Meat Processing
The need to restore local meat processing became clear in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when American shoppers were faced with empty shelves…
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.
Posted August 8, 2023
Client Story: MTXBeef
MTXBeef started over a COVID-era cocktail and a campfire. It was spring 2020. The pandemic had hit. Nestled in the rolling Texas Hill Country—west of…
Posted August 1, 2023
Client Story: The Producer Partnership
Think that opening a meat processing plant during a pandemic might be tough? Try starting the first nonprofit, federally-inspected meat processing plant in the United…
Posted July 20, 2023
Mobile Harvest Units: An Alternative to the Traditional Slaughter Floor
Designing, engineering, permitting, and constructing a new building can be costly and time-consuming. A meat processing plant is no exception, which is why mobile harvest…
Posted June 16, 2023
Explained: 4 Types of Inspection for Meat Processors
There are many steps to moving a finished animal from pasture or feedlot to steak on a plate. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates…
Posted June 14, 2023
Q&A Session: USDA Grants & Mobile/Modular Meat Processing Equipment
Two meat processing grant programs are in the spotlight in summer 2023: USDA’s Local Meat Capacity Grant Program (Local MCap) and Indigenous Animals Harvesting and…
Posted May 15, 2023
HACCP 101: Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance For Meat Processors
When U.S. consumers purchase steaks, ground beef, or a Thanksgiving turkey, they expect it to be safe to eat. Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture…
Posted April 10, 2023
Client Story: Five Marys Ranch
Brian and Mary Heffernan knew that starting a meat processing business would be challenging. “Nothing is easy,” Brian quips. “If it were, everyone would do…
Posted March 13, 2023
Q&A Session: Mobile Harvest Units & Small Processing Plants
Wondering how to start and operate a small meat processing plant or Mobile Harvest Unit? Learn straight from the source. Hear about the background, operations,…
Posted February 6, 2023
Client Story: Bear Mountain Beef
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mac and Celsie Sussex—owners of Bear Mountain Beef in Hawk Springs, Wyoming—faced both a problem and an opportunity.…
Posted January 2, 2023
Why America Needs to Restore Local Meat Processing
The need to restore local meat processing became clear in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when American shoppers were faced with empty shelves…