Squab Producers Of California

Squab Producers of California operates a poultry slaughter and processing plant at 409 Primo Way in Modesto, Stanislaus County. The establishment is listed in the USDA FSIS directory under establishment numbers P8107 and V8107, with poultry processing and poultry slaughter activities, a small size class, and a grant of inspection date on file of August 31, 2021. Poultry is the species reported slaughtered under inspection, and the plant falls in FSIS slaughter volume category 4.0. No custom-exempt activity is reported to FSIS.

The business describes itself as a farmer-owned cooperative organized on May 5, 1943, by John D. Smith. Its website states that 65 independent California farmers oversee the co-op's squab production. Company history on the site traces a first processing plant approved by membership vote in 1947, a move to a larger Hayward facility in 1971, and construction and opening of the current Modesto plant in 1981 and 1982, with expansion in the early 1990s. The site notes the Modesto plant installed the first air chill system in California in 2008 and an electronic paperless HACCP system in 2012.

The plant describes air chilling rather than water chilling, individual Cryovac packaging of each squab, HACCP-compliant equipment and techniques, and a licensed USDA inspector on site daily. Squab is sold directly through an online store on the company website. The site does not state whether the plant processes livestock or poultry for outside farmers who are not co-op members.

The federal record reports no custom-exempt activity at this establishment, and the website does not describe custom processing, booking procedures, minimums, kill fees, or cut and wrap services for outside producers. The operation is structured as a cooperative whose squab is raised by 65 independent California farmers who are co-op members, and the plant processes those birds in its Modesto facility. Farmers interested in membership or in having birds processed would need to contact the co-op directly at (209) 537-4744 or Info@Squab.com, since terms are not stated in the sources on file.

Squab Producers Of California operates under a federal grant of inspection, so product from this plant can be sold anywhere in the United States, which matters if you sell online or across a state line. FSIS does not list a custom-exempt activity for this plant.

Households can order squab through the store on squab.com. Listed items include whole squab in 4-packs with head and feet on or off, whole semi boneless squab (4-pack), whole squab breasts in 2-packs and 8-packs, and a 2 lb pack of whole squab legs, with listed prices ranging from 24.50 to 69.00 dollars. Each bird is air chilled and individually Cryovac packaged. The website also publishes squab recipes. Shipping, delivery arrangements, and any on-site retail counter are not described in the sources on file.

If you are buying a half or quarter animal, the plant is where the animal is processed; the farm sells you the animal. Read how to buy a half cow for the sequence and the math.