RRR Meat Processing

RRR Meat Processing operates at 90 Muskoday Trl. in Buckley, Michigan, in Wexford County, under FSIS establishment numbers M676, P676 and V676. The federal record lists meat processing, meat slaughter, poultry processing, and voluntary meat processing and slaughter, with a grant of inspection dated August 24, 2021. FSIS classifies the plant as very small and reports cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb as species slaughtered under inspection, with a slaughter volume category of under 1,000 head per year. 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 located about 20 minutes south of Traverse City, opened by Rory and Veva in 2001, with their children Ryan and Stephanie joining a few years later. The site states the business is one of the only USDA inspected meat processing facilities in Northern Lower Michigan. Listed services include beef, pork, lamb and goat processing, sausages, brats, and in house smoked meats. The site notes that deer and wild game processing is no longer offered, though a contact form still lists wild game processing as a selectable option.

The site describes the operation as a butcher shop experience with cut sheets published for beef, pork, and lamb and goat. Customer reviews posted on the site mention quarter beef and half hog orders and vacuum sealed, frozen packaging. Note that the website was launched in 2001 per its own account, while the current federal grant of inspection is dated 2021; the sources do not explain the difference.

The plant reports custom-exempt slaughter to FSIS, meaning animals owned by the customer can be processed with packages marked Not for Sale, in addition to federally inspected slaughter of cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb. FSIS lists slaughter volume at under 1,000 head per year and classifies the plant as very small. The website states policies that matter for haulers: cutting instructions for pork, lamb and goat must arrive with the animals, and beef instructions must be provided within 7 days of the animal's arrival. All animals must arrive by 9am on their scheduled date, or between 3pm and 6pm the evening before. The plant states it does not contact individual customers, and that it is the responsibility of the owner or farmer to supply all customer instructions and to arrange pickup. Orders must be picked up within 7 days of completion, or a $200 storage fee is added to the invoice without prior arrangement. After 30 days, orders are subject to donation to local food pantries, with processing fees still owed by the owner. Scheduling is by appointment; the site directs customers to call. Pricing and per head fees are not stated in the sources.

RRR Meat Processing 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 plant reports retail-exempt sales to FSIS. Customer reviews posted on the website describe ordering a quarter beef and half hog and receiving well sealed, frozen product, which indicates bulk purchases are handled, but the website does not publish a bundle list, prices, an online store, delivery, or shipping. Deer and wild game processing is no longer offered per the website. Households wanting product should contact the business directly by phone or email.

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.