Triple C Meats

Triple C Meats operates at 5565 State Rt. 146E in Anna, Illinois, in Union County, under establishment numbers M45401 and V45401. The plant reports meat slaughter and meat processing to FSIS, along with voluntary processing and voluntary slaughter for meat and rabbit. Species slaughtered under inspection, as reported to FSIS, are cattle, hogs, sheep and lamb, and bison. FSIS lists the plant as Very Small, with a slaughter volume category of 1.0, meaning under 1,000 head per year, and a grant of inspection date on file of July 7, 2020. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and packages are marked Not for Sale, and reports retail-exempt sales.

The company website describes a family owned and operated business serving Southern Illinois residents and farmers. It states the business opened in 2005 as Campground Venison Processing, next to a campground on the Cherokee Trail of Tears, processing 70 deer in its first year and around 2,000 now. The name changed to Triple C Meats in 2013, the C's standing for Campground Custom Cuts, when the business transitioned to processing domestic livestock. The website says USDA inspection status was obtained in 2015, allowing retail sales and wholesale to brokers; the grant of inspection date on file with FSIS is 2020-07-07. The site also notes the business packages meat for local farmers who sell at farmers markets and to artisan restaurants, and announces a new store front.

Website material states that most products are made with meat raised by local farmers, with beef started on pasture and finished in a small grain-fed lot by family and local farmer friends, and pork supplied mostly by small packers who raise their own hogs. Retail beef is described as mostly grown by local farmers. Nothing in the sources indicates whether the plant is currently accepting new work; details are given here as listed.

The plant reports custom-exempt slaughter to FSIS, meaning it processes animals owned by the customer with packages marked Not for Sale, and it reports slaughter of cattle, hogs, sheep and lamb, and bison under inspection. FSIS classes it as Very Small with a slaughter volume under 1,000 head per year. The website states the business has a team of experienced butchers capable of processing any way requested, and directs customers with an upcoming custom butchering date to fill out the online cutting guide, then print and email it or call for help. It also states the business packages meat for local farmers who sell at farmers markets and to artisan restaurants. Booking lead times, minimums, kill fees, and cut and wrap charges for livestock are not stated in the sources on file.

Triple C Meats reports custom-exempt slaughter to FSIS, which means it can process an animal a customer already owns (a whole, half, or share bought before slaughter) and return it in packages marked Not for Sale. Most small farms have one or two plants they book with, and the plant's calendar decides the delivery date.

The website describes a retail store at the Anna location with convenient pickup, plus an online store for ordering. Retail offerings named include beef mostly grown by local farmers, pork, snack sticks, and bratwurst. Pork or beef meat bundles are offered as variety packages at a slightly discounted price, with contents and pricing on a bundle sheet, which also lists the cost of hanging beef when available. The site does not state prices for individual items, and shipping or delivery is not mentioned; pickup at the retail store is the option described. Deer processing is offered October 1 through January 31, with 4 to 6 weeks turnaround, and during January only legs, shoulders, and clean boneless meat are accepted, no whole carcasses.

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.