Dover Processing, Inc.

Dover Processing, Inc., doing business as Dover Processing, operates at 481 South Main St. in Dover, Minnesota, in Olmsted County. The plant holds federal establishment numbers M34698, P34698 and V34698 and is listed by FSIS under meat slaughter, meat processing, poultry processing, meat identification, and voluntary slaughter and processing of meat. FSIS classifies it as Very Small, with a grant of inspection date on file of January 20, 2022 and a reported slaughter volume category of under 1,000 head per year. Species slaughtered under inspection as reported to FSIS are cattle, hogs, sheep and lamb, bison, and elk or deer. The establishment also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and packages are marked Not for Sale, and retail-exempt sales.

The company website describes Dover Processing as a locally owned family business run by Geoff and Jody Hart and family, established in June of 2017, focused on farm to table processing. The site states the plant processes beef, pigs, sheep, goats, bison and elk, and that venison trim is accepted year round. Beyond slaughter and cutting, the site describes further processing, co-packing for product lines, customized farm labeling, and Certified Organic processing and sausages. An about page quotes an Animal Welfare Approved review dated December 3, 2019, recommending Dover Processing, Inc. for the slaughter of beef cattle, pigs and sheep from AWA farms.

Contact details differ between sources. The FSIS record lists (507) 273-0859, while the website lists (507) 932-8660 and the email dovermeats@gmail.com. The website address is given as 481 Main St South, matching the federal record. The website states the plant is currently taking appointments; buyers and producers should confirm current status directly, as listed.

The website states the plant processes beef, pigs, sheep, goats, bison and elk, and asks customers to call to schedule an appointment for beef and pork processing. Detailed cutting guidelines are published for beef and pork, covering organ retention, roast sizing (about 3 pounds average, adjustable), steak thickness (about 1 inch for beef, about three quarters inch for pork chops), packaging counts, and the option to set aside additional trim for summer sausage, snack sticks or bratwurst. The site notes that bratwurst, sausage links and other smoked sausage from pork trim carry an additional cost, and that pork fat is not rendered into lard. For producers selling to customers, the site describes customized farm labeling, Certified Organic processing, and co-packing. FSIS lists both inspected and custom-exempt slaughter, so producers can ask which path fits their sales plans. Specific booking lead times, minimums, and price schedules are not stated in the sources on file.

Dover Processing, 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 website invites customers into a retail store at the plant, with custom cut steaks, specialty sausages, snack sticks, summer sausage, pulled pork, bacon, ground beef, frozen fish, frozen chicken and other fresh and ready to eat items. The retail page states products can be pre-ordered by phone for pickup, and that specials, new products and holiday order reminders are posted on the company Facebook page. Staff state they know the ingredients in their products and can answer questions about food allergies and sensitivities, with uncured, all-natural and MSG-free options available. Prices, halves and quarters sales, delivery and shipping 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.