Windham Butcher Shop Inc.

Windham Butcher Shop Inc., operating as Southpaw Packing Company, Inc., is a very small USDA-inspected establishment at 247 Varney Mill Road in Windham, Cumberland County, Maine. It holds establishment numbers M9840 and V9840, with FSIS activities covering meat slaughter, meat processing, and voluntary slaughter and processing of meat. The grant of inspection date on file is October 7, 2021. The plant reports slaughtering cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb under inspection, and its FSIS slaughter volume category is 1, meaning under 1,000 head per year. It also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and packaged marked Not for Sale, and retail-exempt sales.

The website states the location has offered livestock harvesting and processing services since 1976 and that its customers include livestock producers, restaurants, and wholesale regulars. Nichole and Leon Sargent acquired the business in December 2018 and are described as the owners. Nichole Sargent oversees human resources and daily managerial systems and has completed the UMaine Sanitation Workshop and a Meat and Poultry HACCP course. Leon Sargent manages daily operations of the facility, has over 30 years in meat processing and retail management, and oversaw production at Windham Butcher Shop from 2010 to 2018.

There is a difference between the federal record and the website. The plant reports sheep and lamb slaughter to FSIS, while the contact page states that it does not process chickens, turkeys, rabbits, lamb, goats, deer, or moose. The contact page also states the business is not accepting new customers and is not a retail store, directing retail buyers to Southpaw Meat Market. A notice on the processing page dated April 6, 2021 states the shop was at capacity and not booking at that time. Buyers and producers should contact the plant directly to confirm current status.

The website states that scheduling is done by calling 207-892-4203 and coordinating with Nichole or Leon, and that producers should call well in advance of when livestock need to be harvested. Processing sheets are available for download from the forms and documents page. Payment in full is expected at pickup, with cash or check accepted. Customers are notified by email or telephone when product is finished and must pick up within five business days of notification. A cancellation policy effective May 12, 2020 states that cancellations made less than one week before the slaughter date are assessed at double the livestock slaughter charge. The site notes that processing services change from time to time and may not always be available. A notice dated April 6, 2021 states the shop was at capacity and not booking, and the contact page states it is not accepting new customers. The plant reports cattle, hog, and sheep and lamb slaughter to FSIS; its website states it does not process lamb, goats, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, deer, or moose. Current booking status should be confirmed directly.

Windham Butcher Shop Inc. 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 contact page states that Windham Butcher Shop is not a retail store and directs retail purchases to Southpaw Meat Market. The establishment does report retail-exempt sales to FSIS. No pricing, halves and quarters, bundles, delivery, shipping, or online ordering information is stated in the sources on file. The website connections page is described as listing links to farmers and resources for buying local.

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.